Vitamin Enrichment of Eggs

Abstract

Layers were fed diets with regular or 3 to 10 times more supplemental vitamins in an attempt to enrich eggs with these nutrients. Dietary concentrations of vitamins were chosen with the expectation of producing an egg with sufficient vitamins to achieve 50% of daily recommended intake (DRI). Eggs were assayed for all vitamins following a 90-d feeding period. There was considerable variation in egg vitamin enrichment. Only for biotin, vitamin B₁₂, and vitamin K was ≥50% DRI achieved with one egg. Egg content of niacin, thiamine, and pyridoxine were insensitive to diet manipulation.