Lipid composition of eggs from three sicilian native poultry breeds: nutritional evaluation and health impact

Native poultry breeds are a valuable resource for sustainable production and functional food valorization. This study analyzed the lipid composition and cholesterol content of eggs from three native breeds from Sicily region (South Italy): Cornuta, Valplatani and Siciliana. From 11 farms, a total of 170 eggs of the three breeds raised under semi- extensive conditions were analyzed. The analysis was performed on yolk, focusing on fatty acid composition (ISO_12966) and cholesterol content (AOAC_994.10). Saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids were quantified, and nutritional indices such as the n-6/n-3 ratio, Atherogenic Index (AI), Thrombogenic Index (TT), Hypocholesterolemic/ Hypercholesterolemic ratio (HH), and Peroxidation Index (PI) were calculated. These indices evaluate the balance of essential fatty acids, cardiovascular risk, the potential for lowering cholesterol/the hypocholesterolemic potential, and lipid oxidation stability. The data were evaluated by oneway ANOVA, with breed as the main factor, revealing significant differences (P < 0.05) in all following parameters. Specifically Cornuta eggs exhibited the most favorable lipid profile, with the lowest SFA content (38.55%), the lowest n-6/n-3 ratio (7.35) and the best AI (0.52), HH (2.02) and TI (1.22) indices compared to Valplatani and Siciliana eggs (SFA 45.92% and 48.81%; MUFA 48.16% and 44.69%; n-6/n-3 ratio 12.34 and 13.21; AI 0.72 and 0.82; TI 1.66 and 1.91; HH 1.44 and 1.30 respectively). With respect to cholesterol levels, this showed a significantly lower concentration in the Siciliana eggs (1.463.58 mg/kg; P < 0.05) compared to Valplatani (1.476.81 mg/kg) and Cornuta (1.789 mg/kg). No significant differences were observed for PI. These results suggest that eggs from Sicilian native breeds, particularly Cornuta, may offer interesting nutritional properties, supporting healthier food choices and contributing to biodiversity preservation. Native poultry breeds are crucial for sustainable agriculture and the conservation of genetic diversity; however, further studies are needed to confirm their potential benefits in the human diet.