Microalgal feeds containing arachidonic acid and their production and use

• US 20060024404A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionutrition Corporation, Intervet Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionutrition Corporation
• Inventors: Kyle, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,396,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/2
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/12 by fermentation of natural products, e.g. of vegetable material, animal waste material or biomass
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/16 Addition of microorganisms or extracts thereof, e.g. single-cell proteins, to feeding-stuff compositions A23K10/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/158 Fatty acids; Fats; Products containing oils or fats
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/80 for aquatic animals, e.g. fish, crustaceans or molluscs
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 1/10 by extracting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/818 Alternative feeds for fish, e.g. in aquacultures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/805 Pet food for dog, cat, bird, or fish

Abstract

An animal feed with a high level of arachidonic acid is produced from microalgae, and fed to aquatic animals grown in aquaculture. The arachidonic acid-rich microalgae are fed directly to the aquatic animals, or processed to produce an oil that can be used as a human nutritive supplement. The arachidonic acid-rich microalgae can be combined with long chain omega-3 fatty acids to provide a source of nutrition for humans and animals. The animal feed and nutritional supplements are free of animal byproducts.

Claims

1. A feed for an animal comprising one or more microalga or portions thereof which comprise arachadonic acid, wherein the microalgal arachadonic acid comprises from about 1% to about 20% of the feed.

2. The feed of claim 1, wherein the arachadonic acid is predominantly in a form chosen from one or more of a phospholipid and a triglyceride.

3. The feed of claim 1, wherein the animal is an aquatic animal.

4. The feed of claim 3, wherein the aquatic animal is aquacultured.

5. The feed of claim 3, wherein the aquatic animal is a zooplankton.

6. The feed of claim 3, wherein the aquatic animal is chosen from a fish, crustacean, and mollusk.

7. The feed of claim 5, wherein the zooplankton is chosen from a crustacean, brine shrimp, Artemia, and rotifer.

8. The feed of claim 1, wherein the microalga is chosen from one or more of Euglena, Porphyridium, Parietochloris, and snow alga.

9. A method of delivering a feed comprising arachadonic acid, wherein the arachadonic acid is provided by a microalga or parts thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising delivering the feed to an animal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the animal is an aquatic animal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the aquatic animal is aquacultured.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the aquatic animal comprises one or more zooplankter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the zooplankter is chosen from one or more crustacean, brine shrimp, Artemia, androtifer.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the aquatic animal is a fish, crustacean, or mollusk.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the arachadonic acid is predominantly in a phospholipid form.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the arachadonic acid is predominantly in a triglyceride form.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the macroalgae are chosen from one or more of Euglene, Porphyridium, Panetochloris, and snow alga.

19. A microalgal oil comprising arachadonic acid, wherein the arachadonic acid comprises at least about 10% (w/v) of the total fat.

20. The oil of claim 19, wherein the microalga is chosen from Euglena, Porphyridium, Parietochloris, and snow alga.

21. The oil of claim 19, wherein the oil is extracted with a solvent.

22. The oil of claim 19, wherein the oil further comprises docosahexaenoic acid and the ratio of arachadonic acid to docohexaenoic acid ranges from about 1 part arachadonic acid to 10 parts docohexaenoic acid to about 10 parts arachadonic acid to about 1 part docohexaenoic acid.

23. The oil of claim 22, wherein the source of the docohexaenoic acid is a microalga other than Euglena, Porphyridium, Parietochloris, and snow alga.

24. The oil of claim 22, wherein the source of the docohexaenoic acid is fish oil.

25. The oil of claim 19, wherein the arachadonic acid is predominantly in the form of a phospholipid.

26. The oil of claim 19, wherein the arachadonic acid is predominantly in the form of a triglyceride.

30. A human nutritive supplement comprising the oil of any of claims 19-26.

31. The supplement of claim 30, further comprising a capsule, colloidal suspension, or liquid formula.

32. The supplement of claim 31, wherein the formula is an infant formula.

27. A human nutritive supplement comprising one or more miroalgae or portions thereof, wherein microalgal arachadonic acid comprises at least about 10% by weight of the microalgae.

28. The supplement of claim 27, further comprising a tablet, capsule, colloidal suspension, or powder.

29. The supplement of claim 27, further comprising a bar;

liquid formula for an infant, toddler, or adult;

or cereal.

33. The supplement of any of claims 27-32, further comprising docosahexaenoic acid.

34. The supplement of claim 33, wherein the source of the docosahexaenoic acid is one or more microalga.

35. The supplement of claim 33, wherein the source of the docosehexaenoic acid is fish oil.

36. The supplement of any of claims 33-35, wherein the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid to arachadonic acid ranges from about 1:

10 to about 50;

1.

37. The supplement of any of claims 27-36, wherein the arachadonic acid is predominantly in the form of a phospholipid.

38. The supplement of any of claims 27-36, wherein the arachadonic acid is predominantly in the form of a triglyceride.