Regarding antioxidant compounds (Table 7), retinol was the
most abundant in egg yolk, especially when hens feed alfalfa
sprouts (48.6 vs 34.4 and 42.2 mg kg−1 yolk, in the C and F groups,
respectively). Such result was confirmed by the higher amount
of β-carotene in the two groups fed sprouts since the retinol
is the metabolic product of β-carotene. Even the tocopherols
and tocotrienols were higher in alfalfa and flax eggs, particularly
α-T, α-T3 and γ-T3. Lutein and zeaxanthin were also more
concentrated in the eggs of sprout groups; in particular, lutein
was greater in the A and zeaxanthin in the F group.
The fatty acid composition of the yolk was affected by the
administration of sprouts, whereas the lipid level did not show
any difference (Table 8). At the end of experimental period the
eggs from hens of the F group showed a higher concentration
of ALA, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA)