Enhancing the Nutritional Profile of Acheta domesticus with DHA-Rich Microalgae Supplementation

Growing pressure to build sustainable food systems is steering interest toward edible insects as efficient, nutrient-rich alternatives. In this work, it was evaluated whether adding DHA extracted from microalgal biomass to the standard diet of Acheta domesticus can enrich the crickets’ lipid quality. Diets containing 0, 5, and 10% DHA were fed under controlled rearing. Subadult crickets were milled and analyzed. Compared with controls, supplemented groups showed higher total lipids and a healthier fatty-acid profile, with clear increases in omega-3 and the appearance of DHA. This minor dietary change is simple, scalable, and compatible with low-impact rearing, supporting the development of higher-value insect-based ingredients for human nutrition.