Enhancing Digestibility of Chlorella vulgaris Biomass in Monogastric Diets: Strategies and Insights

Abstract

Microalgae, such as Chlorella vulgaris (CV), have been identified as promising animal feed sources due to their high content of essential nutrients, including proteins, total lipids, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and pigments. This study aimed to review the digestibility, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability of nutrients from CV biomass, and to analyse strategies to enhance their digestibility in monogastric animal diets. The study conducted a systematic review of the literature from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, up until the end of January 2023. The results of adding CV to poultry and swine diets were diverse and depended on a number of variables. However, pre-treatments applied to CV biomass improved nutrient digestibility and accessibility. CV biomass, produced in a cost-effective manner, has the potential to serve as a supplement or substitute for expensive feed ingredients and improve animal health, physiology, and immune status. Variations in results may be due to differences in microalgal strain, cultivation conditions, and dietary inclusion levels, among other factors. This study provides new insights and perspectives into the utilization of CV biomass in animal diets, highlighting its potential as a valuable ingredient to improve nutrient utilization.