Incorporation of Alpha-Linolenic Acid and Enhancement of n-3 Fatty Acids in Nile Tilapia: a Factorial Design

A 2²factorial design (two factors at two levels, in triplicate) was performed to investigate the influence of factors A (time of treatment, 15 and 30 days) and B (chia oil content in a supplemented diet, at 2.1 and 4.2 %) in three responses of interest referring to: (a) the incorporation of alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) in lipids of Nile tilapia fillet; (b) the enhancement of n-3 fatty acids; and (c) the decrease in the omega-6/omega3 (n-6/n-3) ratio in fish. Factors A and B were significant in the three regression models obtained and the interaction AB was a significant contributor to the LNA and n-6/n-3 ratio. Analysis of variance suggested three significant and predictive mathematical models. Response surfaces analyses from designs indicated higher LNA and n-3 contents and a lower n-6/n-3 ratio using both factors A and B in the higher levels (30 days of treatment and 4.2 % of chia oil in the diet for fish) chosen for this study.