The Claim
Feeding laying hens a diet containing 10% ahiflower seed results in egg yolk DHA concentrations of 5.39 mg/g, which is significantly higher than the 4.09 mg/g achieved with a diet containing 10% flaxseed, despite flaxseed having nearly twice the oil content.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
When laying hens are fed 10% ahiflower seed, their eggs contain more DHA than eggs from hens fed 10% flaxseed, even though flaxseed has more oil.
See the scientific wording
Feeding 10% ahiflower seed to laying hens increases egg yolk docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to 5.39 mg/g, a level significantly higher than that achieved with 10% flaxseed (4.09 mg/g), despite flaxseed containing nearly twice the oil content, indicating ahiflower seed is a more efficient source of DHA enrichment in eggs.
Ahiflower seed contains a fat called SDA that the hen's liver turns into DHA more easily than the fat in flaxseed. The liver uses special enzymes to change SDA into DHA, which then gets packed into fat-carrying particles and delivered to the developing egg yolk. This process produces more DHA per gram of fat than flaxseed, even though flaxseed has more total oil.
What the research says
1 studyWhen hens ate food with 10% ahiflower seed, their eggs ended up with more of the healthy omega-3 fat called DHA than when they ate the same amount of flaxseed — even though flaxseed has more oil. This means ahiflower is better at turning its nutrients into DHA.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.