Oil of microorganisms rich in docosahexaenoic acid

Abstract

The present invention relates to an oil of microorganisms rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n3), comprising more than 60% of DHA relative to the total mass of fat and to the use thereof for human or animal feed, in particular for feeding infants, children, or pregnant or lactating women.

1 . A microbial oil extracted from a microbial biomass which comprises docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), wherein said microbial oil comprises
 at least 80% triglycerides in relation to the total mass of fat,   more than 60% DHA in relation to the total mass of fat, and   the saturated fatty acid content is less than 25% in relation to the total mass of fat, and wherein the said microbial oil has not undergone substantial modification of its fatty acid content by the addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids, by concentration and/or by the removal of saturated fatty acids.   
     
     
         2 . The microbial oil according to  claim 1 , wherein said microbial oil comprises at least 65% DHA in relation to the total mass of fat. 
     
     
         3 . The microbial oil according to  claim 1 , wherein said microbial oil comprises docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and the combined DHA and DPA content in said microbial oil is at least 70% in relation to the total mass of fat. 
     
     
         4 . The microbial oil according to  claim 1 , wherein said microbial oil comprises at least 70% DHA. 
     
     
         5 . The microbial oil according to  claim 4 , wherein said microbial oil comprises docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and the combined DHA and DPA content in said microbial oil is at least 80% in relation to the total mass of fat. 
     
     
         6 . The microbial oil according to  claim 1 , wherein said microbial oil comprises docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and the DHA/DPA ratio in said microbial oil is at least 4. 
     
     
         7 . The microbial oil according to  claim 1 , wherein the saturated fatty acid content in said microbial oil is less than 15% in relation to the total mass of fat. 
     
     
         8 . The microbial oil according to  claim 1 , wherein said microbial oil has a viscosity at room temperature of 50 Pa·s or less. 
     
     
         9 . The microbial oil according to  claim 8 , wherein said microbial oil has a viscosity of less than 30 Pa·s. 
     
     
         10 . A diluted microbial oil, wherein said diluted oil comprises a microbial oil according to  claim 1 , mixed with another oil. 
     
     
         11 . A biomass of microorganisms, obtained by industrial culture of the said microorganisms and comprises an oil comprising docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), wherein in said oil
 at least 80% triglycerides in relation to the total mass of fat,   more than 60% DHA in relation to the total mass of fat, and   the saturated fatty acid content is less than 25% in relation to the total mass of fat.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A food, wherein said food comprises an oil according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 . 
     
     
         14 . The microbial oil according to  claim 1 , wherein said microbial oil comprises less than 0.5% of ARA (arachidonic acid) in relation to the total mass of fat. 
     
     
         15 . The microbial oil according to  claim 1 , wherein said microbial oil comprises less than 1.5% of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) in relation to the total mass of fat. 
     
     
         16 . The microbial oil according to  claim 1 , wherein said microbial oil has a melting temperature below −5° C. 
     
     
         17 . The biomass of microorganisms according to  claim 11 , wherein the microbial oil in said biomass comprises at least 70% DHA. 
     
     
         18 . The biomass of microorganisms according to  claim 11 , wherein the microbial oil in said biomass comprises docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and the combined DHA and DPA content in said microbial oil is at least 80% in relation to the total mass of fat. 
     
     
         19 . The biomass of microorganisms according to  claim 11 , wherein the microbial oil in said biomass comprises docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and the DHA/DPA ratio in said microbial oil is at least 4.