Response of Nutritional Values and Gut Microbiomes to Dietary Intake of ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Tenebrio molitor Larvae.

Abstract

Due to their high nutritional value and a lower environmental impact, Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) larvae are regarded as an alternative protein and lipid source in food industries, animal husbandry, and fishery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ω-3 PUFA intake on the nutritional value and gut microbiota of T. molitor larvae. Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) larvae were reared with wheat bran at 20-32 °C for 4 weeks to screen for a suitable temperature. EPA ethyl esters (EE), DHA ethyl esters (ED), DHA triglycerides (TG), and krill oil (KO) were supplemented in wheat bran to rear larvae for 4 weeks, and the compositions including moisture, carbohydrates, crude protein, and crude fats were analyzed. Gut microbiome was analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Larvae reared on wheat bran showed optimal growth at 28 °C. ω-3 PUFA supplements increased crude protein (1.07-1.16 fold) and crude fat (1.12-1.22 fold) contents without affecting survival. Gut microbiota composition shifted significantly in all ω-3 supplemented groups, altering over 10 genera. Bacteria with changed abundance (e.g., Clostridium), known for roles in protein/lipid metabolism, likely contributed to the enhanced nutritional contents. These findings demonstrate the benefits of ω-3 PUFA supplementation in T. molitor rearing and identify associated gut bacteria.