Tissue-specific distribution of carotenoids and vitamin E in tissues of newly hatched chicks from various avian species

The aim of this study was to evaluate carotenoid and vitamin E distribution in egg and tissues of newly hatched chicks from wild mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos), game pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus), free-range guinea fowl ( Numida meleagris), hen ( Gallus domesticus) and domestic duck ( Anas platyrhynchos) and intensively housed hens. Carotenoid concentrations in the egg yolk of free-range guinea fowl, pheasant and wild mallard were similar (61.3–79.2 μg/g). Egg yolks from ducks and intensively housed hens were characterised by the lowest carotenoid concentration comprising 11.2–14.8 μg/g. However, carotenoid concentration in eggs from free-range ducks and hens was less than half of that in free-range guinea fowl or pheasant. Depending on carotenoid concentration in the livers of species studied could be placed in the following descending order: free living pheasant > free-range guinea fowl ≫ free-range hen ≫ intensively housed hen > wild mallard ≫ housed duck > free-range duck. The carotenoid concentrations in other tissues of free-range guinea fowl and pheasant were substantially higher than in the other species studied. Egg yolk of housed hens was characterised by the highest α- and γ-tocopherol concentrations. In accordance with the α-tocopherol concentration in the egg yolk, the birds can be placed in the following descending order: intensively housed hen > wild mallard > free-living pheasant > free-range duck > free-range hen = free-range guinea fowl > housed duck. The main finding of this work is species- and tissue-specific differences in carotenoid and vitamin E distribution in the various avian species studied.