A marine unicellular alga in diets of pregnant and lactating rats as a source of ω3 fatty acids for the developing brain of their progeny

The period of brain development in rats occurs during the late pregnancy and early lactation periods. During that time a large quantity of omega‐3 (ω3) long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, mostly decosahexaenoic acid, is deposited in the brain lipids of the developing and growing pup. A dietary source of ω3 fatty acid should be provided during this period to the dams' diet to assure sufficient of ω3 fatty acids to the developing progeny. Although a wide variety of lipids from plants and marine animals was examined in this respect, we provide herein for the first time, experimental data that indicate that the marine unicellular alga Nannochloropsis can be efficiently used as a dietary source of the ω3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid for pregnant and lactating dams. Furthermore, the dietary ω3 lipids of the alga are efficiently transferred to the developing foetus and pups to support the requirements for normal brain development.