Influence of different dietary doses of n-3- or n-6-rich vegetable fats and alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation on raw and cooked rabbit meat composition and oxidative stability

This study evaluates the effects of replacing beef tallow added to rabbit feeds (3% w/w) by different doses (0%, 1.5% and 3% w/w) of n-6- or n-3-rich vegetable fat sources (sunflower and linseed oil, respectively) and alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation (0 and 100 mg/kg) on the fatty acid composition, alpha-tocopherol content, and oxidation levels [assessed by analyzing thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and lipid hydroperoxide values] in rabbit meat. We also measured these parameters after cooking and refrigerated storage of cooked rabbit meat. Both dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation and the dose and source of fat added to feeds influenced meat fatty acid composition, modifying the n-6/n-3 ratio, which was more nutritionally favorable when linseed oil was used. Furthermore, the addition of linseed oil and the supplementation with alpha-tocopheryl acetate enhanced long-chain PUFA biosynthesis. However, the addition of 3% linseed oil increased meat oxidation, and although it was reduced by dietary supplementation with alpha-tocopheryl acetate in raw meat, this reduction was not as effective after cooking. Therefore, dietary supplementation with 1.5% linseed oil plus 1.5% beef tallow and with alpha-tocopheryl acetate would be recommended to improve the nutritional quality of rabbit meat.     

Glutathione peroxidase activity, TBARS, and alpha-tocopherol in meat from chickens fed different diets.

This study investigated the effect of feeding broilers with diets differing in dietary fat source (lard, sunflower oil, olive oil) and vitamin E (basal vs supplemented with 200 mg of alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg) on meat lipid oxidative stability. The diets differed by their degree of unsaturation and included the natural antioxidant alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). Glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity was measured in raw meat and ranged from 3.62 to 8.06 nmol NADPH/min/mg protein. The enzyme activity was influenced by the degree of unsaturation of the diet. Capillary gas chromatography analyses showed that dietary alpha-tocopherol accumulated in the muscle tissue and contributed to a better oxidative stability of the raw and cooked meat. Thigh meat alpha-tocopherol levels ranged from 2.73 to 3.62 microg/g in unsupplemented chickens whereas levels from 8.69 to 13.37 microg/g were observed in the thigh meat from alpha-tocopherol supplemented animals. The inclusion of olive oil and alpha-tocopherol in the animal diet gave lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values and lower GSHPx activity. High correlations were found between the parameters studied. The results suggest that the glutathione peroxidase activity could be used as an indicator of the meat oxidative stability. A negative relationship was observed between GSHPx activity and tissue alpha-tocopherol levels, and a positive relationship was evidenced between TBARS and antioxidant enzyme activity.     

Effect of heated sunflower oil and dietary supplements on the composition, oxidative stability, and sensory quality of dark chicken meat

A factorial design was used to study the effect of dietary oxidized sunflower oils (fresh, heated at low temperatures, and heated at high temperatures), DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (0 or 100 mg/kg), and Zn supplementation (0 or 600 mg/kg) on the composition, oxidative stability, and sensory quality of dark chicken meat with skin from animals fed with a Se supplement (Se-enriched yeast, 0.6 mg of Se/kg). The positional and geometrical isomers of linoleic acid were increased in raw meat from chickens fed oils oxidized at high temperatures. In addition, supplementation with alpha-tocopheryl acetate increased the alpha-tocopherol content, whereas 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values and lipid hydroperoxide content were reduced. Likewise, TBA values, rancid aroma, and rancid flavor also decreased in cooked dark meat. However, none of the dietary factors studied affected consumer acceptability scores of cooked meat. Furthermore, Zn supplementation increased the Se content in raw meat.     

Dose and duration effect of alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation on chicken meat fatty acid composition, tocopherol content, and oxidative status

The effects of dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate (alpha-TA) doses (75, 150, and 225 mg/kg) and the duration of this supplementation (0, 10, 21, 32, and 43 days prior to slaughter) on fatty acid composition, alpha-tocopherol content, and oxidative status were studied either in raw or in cooked dark chicken meat with its skin. With regard to fatty acid composition, raw meat was affected by both dietary factors. Various polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased as a result of higher alpha-TA doses, whereas these fatty acids increased with longer supplementation periods. Cooked meat showed similar trends for the duration of alpha-TA supplementation. On the other hand, alpha-tocopherol content in raw and cooked meat increased as a result of the dose and duration of alpha-TA supplementation. Formation of lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid values of these meats were also influenced by these two dietary factors, and the dietary combination of 150 mg/kg of alpha-TA during the last 32 days was optimal in terms of supplementation costs and meat oxidative stability.     

Effect of beta-carotene and vitamin E on oxidative stability in leg meat of broilers fed different supplemental fats

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of dietary fat (6% lard and sunflower and olive oil) and supplementation of alpha-tocopheryl acetate or beta-carotene on vitamin E content and lipid oxidation in raw, cooked, and chilled-stored broiler leg meat. Vitamin E increased its tissue level, reducing lipid oxidation. The oxidative stability of leg meat tended to decrease with dietary sunflower oil. Effects of beta-carotene on vitamin E levels and oxidation depended on dietary fat and its concentration in feed, decreasing vitamin E, mainly at 50 ppm. beta-Carotene at 15 ppm acted as antioxidant in fresh and cooked meat in the sunflower and olive oil diets. However, in stored meat, beta-carotene at 50 ppm increased TBARS, probably due to a decrease in vitamin E content and direct prooxidant effects per se. It is suggested that the antioxidant effect of beta-carotene requires the presence of vitamin E in tissues.     

Influence of dietary fat and vitamin E supplementation on free radical production and on lipid and protein oxidation in turkey muscle extracts

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of dietary fat (6% soy oil or rapeseed oil or tallow) and alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation at two levels (30 or 200 ppm) on radical production, measured by ESR spectroscopy, and on lipid and protein oxidation in turkey muscle extracts oxidized by an enzymic system (NADPH, ADP, FeSO(4)/cytochrome P450 reductase). Two muscles were tested: pectoralis major (glycolytic) and sartorius (oxidative) muscles. Radical production measured by ESR was higher in pectoralis major muscle than in sartorius muscle, whereas lipid and protein oxidation was more important in sartorius muscle, showing the importance of the pro-/antioxidant ratio in oxidative processes in muscular cells and of the measurement methodology to appreciate the free radical production. Dietary fat had no effect on the level of ESR signals, whereas feeding of animals with soy oil induced higher oxidation of lipids. Protein oxidation was less sensitive to the nature of the dietary fat than lipid oxidation. Vitamin E supplementation significantly decreased radical production, as measured by ESR spectroscopy. Vitamin E also decreased lipid and protein oxidation, but the effect of vitamin E on protein oxidation was less pronounced than on lipid oxidation.     

Effect of dietary dried tomato pulp on oxidative stability of Japanese quail meat

Ninety, 21-day-old, Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) divided into three groups with five subgroups each were fed a basal diet that served as control or a basal diet containing 5 or 10% of dried tomato pulp (DTP), a byproduct of the tomato-processing industry. The DTP contained lycopene and beta-carotene at 281 and 24.3 mg kg(-)(1) of dry weight, respectively. On day 42 of age, birds were slaughtered, and carcasses were trimmed for breast meat. To assess the effect of dietary treatment on the oxidative stability of raw and cooked meat, raw meat was subjected to iron-induced lipid oxidation, whereas both raw and cooked meats were subjected to refrigerated storage at 4 degrees C. The extent of lipid oxidation was determined on the basis of the malondialdehyde (MDA) formed through the use of third-order derivative spectrophotometry. Results showed that after 6 and 9 days of refrigerated storage, MDA values in raw meat were increased. The increase was higher (P < 0.05) for the 10% DTP group and lower (P < 0.05) for the 5% DTP group, compared to control. An analogous oxidation profile was observed for cooked meat at 3, 6, and 9 days of storage. Iron-induced lipid oxidation of raw meat showed that the 10% DTP group as well as the control group exhibited MDA values that did not differ (P > 0.05) from each other at all time points, whereas the 5% DTP group presented MDA values that, although not differing from those of the other groups at 0 and 50 min, were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the other groups at 100 and 150 min of iron-induced lipid oxidation. These results suggested that inclusion of dried tomato pulp in feed at a level of 5% exerted an antioxidant effect, whereas addition at level of 10% exerted a prooxidant effect. Mean alpha-tocopherol levels in the control, 5% DTP, and 10% DTP groups were 2.2, 2.1, and 1.4 mg kg(-)(1) of meat, respectively. Fatty acid analysis showed that the 10% DTP group had a higher (P < 0.05) content of total polyunsaturated fatty acids and a greater (P < 0.05) unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio compared to control. There might be an interaction between DTP and alpha-tocopherol that is of importance for the balance between pro- and antioxidative activities. Future experiments should be designed to explore the interaction between individual carotenoids and tocopherols in order to better elucidate their role in oxidative changes.     

Chemical and sensory evaluation of crude oil extracted from herring byproducts from different processing operations

Fish oils extracted from marinated herring (frozen and unfrozen) byproducts and maatjes herring byproducts were evaluated on their chemical and sensory properties. The obtained crude oils had very low content of copper (<0.1 mg/kg oil), and iron values were 0.8, 0.1, and 0.03 mg/kg oil, respectively, for oil from maatjes and frozen and fresh byproducts. For the maatjes oil, a much lower value was found for alpha-tocopherol compared to the other oils. Storage stability results showed that the oils behave differently. Secondary oxidation products were measured for fresh oil, while for the maatjes and frozen byproducts' oil, tertiary oxidation products were detected. Over storage time, the maatjes and frozen byproducts' oils became more intense in odor, correlating positively at the end with sensory attributes of train-oil, acidic, marine and fishy. The best correlation between sensory and chemical analyses was found for FFA and fishy off-odor (r = 0.781).     

Effects of vitamin E supplementation on lipid peroxidation and color retention of salted calf muscle from a diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The color of fresh meat is one of the most important quality criteria of raw muscle foods. This red color is principally due to the presence of oxymyoglobin. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of a diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), the addition of NaCl, and the influence of dietary supplementation with vitamin E on calf muscle oxymyoglobin oxidation (color) and lipid peroxidation. Vitamin E was added to the feed at a concentration of 4000 mg/day for 90 days before slaughter. This diet increased the alpha-tocopherol concentration in muscle membrane from 2.6-2.8 to 6.5-7.0 microg/g of fresh weight. It was found that the diet rich in PUFA and, especially, the addition of NaCl increased muscle lipid peroxidation and oxymyoglobin oxidation as indicated by the contents of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and substances that impaired color value readings during storage at 4 degrees C. Both undesirable reactions during storage were controlled very efficiently by the presence of a critically high concentration of alpha-tocopherol in the muscle tissues. The findings concerning the antioxidant activity of alpha-tocopherol in this study form additional evidence of its efficient protection against oxidative reactions during storage of muscle tissues and its potential to maintain a high nutritional value in them.     

Consumption of oxidized oil increases oxidative stress in broilers and affects the quality of breast meat

A total of 120 4-week-old broiler chickens were allotted to 12 pens and fed one of three diets including control, oxidized diet (5% oxidized oil), or antioxidant-added diet (500 IU vitamin E) for 2 weeks. Blood samples were collected at the end of feeding trial, and breast muscles were sampled immediately after slaughter. Breast meats were also collected 24 h after slaughter and used for meat quality measurements. Oxidative stress in blood, lipid and protein oxidation, and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase (SERCA) activity of breast muscle were determined. The oxidized diet increased oxidative stress in blood and increased carbonyl content in breast meat compared with the other two dietary treatments (P < 0.05). Lipid oxidation of breast muscles with the antioxidant-supplemented diet was lower than that with the oxidized and control diet groups (P < 0.05). Meat from birds fed the oxidized diet showed higher drip loss after 1 and 3 days of storage and greater 0-1 h post-mortem pH decline (P < 0.05). Significant differences in specific SERCA activity in breast muscles from birds fed control and oxidized diets (P < 0.05) were detected. This suggested that dietary oxidized oil induced oxidative stress in live birds and increased lipid and protein oxidation in breast muscle. Decrease in SERCA activity in breast muscles due to oxidative stress in live animals accelerated post-mortem glycolysis, which sped the pH drop after slaughter and increased drip loss, indicating that oxidation of diet can cause PSE-like (pale, soft, and exudative) conditions in broiler breast muscles.     

Alpha-tocopherol oxidation in fish muscle during chilling and frozen storage

The oxidation of alpha-tocopherol (TH) in chilled and frozen fish muscle was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry. TH oxidation byproducts were identified as alpha-tocopherolquinone (TQ), 5,6-epoxy-alpha-tocopherolquinone (TQE1), and 2-3-epoxy-alpha-tocopherolquinone (TQE2). The concentration of TH decreased significantly during storage while those of TQ, TQE1, and TQE2 increased noteworthy. The relative amounts of TH and its oxidized products were significantly related with the extent of oxidation produced in postmortem fish, and the ratio TQ/TH is suggested as an index of oxidative stress in fish muscle. The effect of phenolic antioxidants supplementation on retarding TH oxidation was also studied. Data suggested that the addition of 100 ppm of caffeic acid, hydroxytyrosol, and propyl gallate could regenerate endogenous TH from its oxidized forms resulting in an antioxidant synergy consistent with the reduction of lipid oxidation observed in fish muscle supplemented with phenolic compounds.     

Cholesterol oxidation in meat products and its regulation by supplementation of sodium nitrite and apple polyphenol before processing

The levels of cholesterol oxidation derivatives (OxChol) in eight commercial species of meat products were examined. These products contained more than 1 mg/100 g of OxChol, and 7beta-hydroxycholesterol + 5beta-epoxycholesterol (111-1092 microg/100 g), 5alpha-epoxycholesterol (80-712 microg/100 g), cholestanetriol (0-368 microg/100 g), and 7-ketocholesterol (708-1204 microg/100 g) were detected. To know the interaction of sodium nitrite supplementation against cholesterol oxidation in meat products, sausage was produced with or without varying levels of sodium nitrite and stored in the refrigerator for 15 days. As a result, cholesterol oxidation in sausage was inhibited by addition of sodium nitrite in a dose-dependent manner. This observation may be associated with inactivation of O(2)(-) radical and stabilization of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). In fact, the levels of OxChol in sausage increased, accompanying the decrease of coexisting linoleic acid when sodium nitrite was not added to sausage meat. Thus, cholesterol oxidation in meat products seems to be considarably promoted by the oxidation of coexisting PUFAs. On the other hand, additive apple polyphenol also inhibited linoleic acid oxidation in sausage and then suppressed cholesterol oxidation through its radical scavenging effects. Therefore, apple polyphenol, having a large amount of an oligomer of catechin, may interfere with cholesterol oxidation in meat processing or storage of meat products through its antioxidative action and be useful as a new antioxitant for meat products when it is added to the original meat before processing.     

alpha-tocopherol content of Greek virgin olive oils

alpha-Tocopherol, the main tocopherol homologue found in olive oil, was determined using normal phase HPLC. Ninety Greek virgin olive oils, selected according to a designed sampling protocol from different cultivars and regions all over Greece for three successive crop years, were analyzed. For a specific olive cultivar, which is widely used for the production of olive oil in Greece, additional measurements were made to study the effect of milling conditions on alpha-tocopherol concentration. Finally, a significant number of commercial olive oil samples (25) obtained from the retail market were analyzed. High concentrations of alpha-tocopherol were observed in most of the samples selected from various regions. Values ranging between 98 and 370 mg/kg were found (>200 mg/kg in 60% of samples). Extraction conditions were not found to influence alpha-tocopherol level. alpha-Tocopherol content of retail market samples was high, ranging from 120 to 250 mg/kg of oil (>180 mg/kg in 60% of samples). Storage of samples under domestic conditions for two years showed that good handling is quite important for retaining high alpha-tocopherol levels and for increasing, thus, the storage life and nutritional value of this exquisite oil.     

Determination of flubendazole and its metabolites in eggs and poultry muscle with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The optimization of a quantitative and sensitive LC-MS/MS method to determine flubendazole and its hydrolyzed and reduced metabolites in eggs and poultry muscle is described. The benzimidazole components were extracted from the two matrices with ethyl acetate after the sample mixtures had been made alkaline. The HPLC separation was performed on an RP C-18 column with gradient elution, using ammonium acetate and acetonitrile as mobile phase. The analytes were detected after atmospheric pressure electrospray ionization on a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer in MS/MS mode. The components were measured by the MS/MS transition of the molecular ion to the most abundant daughter ion. The overall extraction recovery values for flubendazole, the hydrolyzed metabolite, and the reduced metabolite in eggs (fortification levels of 200, 400, and 800 microg kg(-1)) and muscle (fortification levels of 25, 50, and 100 microg kg(-1)) were, respectively, 77, 78, and 80% and 92, 95, and 90%. The trueness (fortification levels of 400 and 50 microg kg(-1), respectively, for eggs and muscle), expressed as a percentage of the added values for these analytes, was, respectively, 89, 100, and 86 and 110, 110, and 98%. The proposed MS detection method operating in the MS/MS mode is very selective and very sensitive. The limits of detection for flubendazole and its hydrolyzed and reduced metabolites in egg and muscle were, respectively, 0.19, 0.29, and 1.14 microg kg(-1) and 0.14, 0.75, and 0.31 microg kg(-1). The limits of quantification were, respectively, 1, 1, and 2 microg kg(-1) and 1, 1, and 1 microg kg(-1). The discussed method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study with turkeys. Residue concentrations in breast and thigh muscle of turkeys orally treated with flubendazole were quantified. Medicated feed containing 19.9 and 29.6 mg kg(-1) flubendazole was provided to the turkeys for seven consecutive days. For the trial with the recommended dose of 19.9 mg kg(-1), one day after the end of the treatment, the mean sum of the flubendazole plus hydrolyzed metabolite residue values in thigh and breast muscle declined to below the maximum residue limit (50 microg kg(-1)) and were, respectively, 36.6 and 54.1 microg kg(-1). The corresponding values with the higher dose of 29.6 mg kg(-1) were, respectively, 101.7 and 119.7 microg kg(-1).     

Effects of oxidized dietary oil and vitamin E supplementation on lipid profile and oxidation of muscle and liver of juvenile atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

The effects of oxidized dietary lipid and the role of vitamin E on lipid profile, retained tocopherol levels, and lipid oxidation of juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) were evaluated following a 9-week feeding trial. Four isonitrogenous experimental diets containing fresh or oxidized (peroxide value of 94 mequiv/kg) fish oil with or without added vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol or mixed tocopherols) were fed to juvenile cod in duplicate tanks. There was no significant (P > 0.05) influence on major lipid classes of cod liver and muscle by diet with the exception of sterols. Sterols content was increased in liver but decreased in muscle by oxidized dietary oil in the absence of vitamin E. Dietary vitamin E supplementation decreased the sterols level in cod liver but with no significant (P > 0.05) effect on their level in the muscle. Fatty acid composition varied between lipid fractions in muscle tissue and was affected by the diet. Oxidized oil significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the deposition of alpha-tocopherol in liver but not in muscle. gamma- and delta-Tocopherols from dietary tocopherol mixtures were retained at very low levels in liver, but higher retention was observed in muscle tissue. The oxidative state of both liver and muscle, as measured by the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and headspace propanal, negatively correlated with tissue vitamin E levels. It is suggested that oxidized oil affected juvenile Atlantic cod by causing vitamin E deficiency in certain tissues and that these effects could be alleviated by supplementation of a sufficient amount of dietary vitamin E. The results also indicate that mixed tocopherols were good antioxidants for Atlantic cod, although less effective than alpha-tocopherol alone in many tissues with the exception of muscle, where gamma- and delta-tocopherols were deposited at relatively high levels.     

On the role of squalene in olive oil stability.

The role of squalene in olive oil stability was studied for various concentrations and experimental conditions. No effect was found in induction periods of olive oil at elevated temperatures using the Rancimat apparatus. Samples were then stored at 40 and 62 degrees C in the dark, and the extent of oxidation was followed by periodic measurements of peroxide value and conjugated dienes. A concentration dependent moderate antioxidant activity was evidenced which was stronger in the case of olive oil compared to that found for sunflower oil and lard. In the presence of alpha-tocopherol (100 mg/kg) and caffeic acid (10 mg/kg) the contribution of squalene (7000 mg/kg) was not significant. No radical scavenging activity was observed using DPPH(*) in 2-propanol. The weak antioxidant activity of squalene in olive oil may be explained by competitive oxidation of the different lipids present which leads to a reduction of the oxidation rate. Squalene plays a rather confined role in olive oil stability even at low temperatures.     

Lipid stability and antioxidant profile of microsomal fraction of broiler meat enriched with α-lipoic acid and α-tocopherol acetate

The importance of the linkage between nutrition and health is a hot issue. Like other food-related sectors, the meat industry is undergoing foremost transformations, driven among other things by changes in consumer requirements. The present study was designed to evaluate the lipid stability and antioxidative potential of leg and breast microsomal fraction of broiler meat fed on ALA and ATA. For the first 3 weeks of growth, broilers were fed on feed supplemented with ATA (200 mg/kg of feed) and during the last 3 weeks broilers were fed on feed supplemented with ALA (25, 75, 150 mg/kg of feed) and a constant level of ATA (200 mg/kg of feed). The body weight of the carcass was measured after every week of growth until 6 weeks. Positive correlation between the antioxidant activity and the TPC was observed. Higher values of TBARS were detected in leg muscles than in breast muscles. HPLC data revealed ALA and ATA contents were higher in T(4) (leg, 5.55 ± 0.19 and 3.87 ± 0.15 μg/mg of protein; breast, 5.63 ± 0.20 and 2.03 ± 0.10 μg/mg of protein, respectively) and lowest in T(5) (ALA, leg, 1.40 ± 0.06 μg/mg of protein; breast, 1.54 ± 0.05 μg/mg of protein; ATA, leg, 1.25 ± 0.06 μg/mg of protein; breast, 0.63 ± 0.008 μg/mg of protein), in which the only oxidized oil was used. Oxidized oil in feed reduced weight gain and increased TBARS, whereas TPC, DPPH, ALA, and ATA values decreased in both leg and breast meat.     

Effect of electron beam irradiation and storage at 5 degrees C on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and carbonyl contents in chicken breast meat infused with antioxidants and selected plant extracts

This study evaluated the effectiveness of synthetic and natural antioxidants, green tea, commercial grape seed extracts/combinations, and TBHQ, with varying concentrations of lipid oxidation of nonirradiated and irradiated chicken breast meats stored at 5 degrees C for 12 days. Fresh boneless and skinless chicken breast meats were vacuum-infused with varying concentrations of antioxidants: green tea, grape seed extracts alone/in combination, and TBHQ. The irradiation dosage was 3.0 kGy. Carbonyl values of raw chicken meat and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values of raw and cooked chicken meat were determined for 0-12 days at 5 degrees C storage. TBARS values for 0-12 days of storage at 5 degrees C ranged from 1.21 to 7.3 and 1.22 to 8.51 mg malondialdehyde/100 g chicken for nonirradiated and irradiated raw chicken, respectively. TBARS values of cooked chicken ranged from 2.19 to 35.83 and 2.45 to 45.72 mg malondialdehyde/100 g chicken for nonirradiated and irradiated chicken, respectively. Irradiation increased TBARS values of both controls and plant extracts. The carbonyl content in meat lipid ranged from 1.7 to 2.9 and 1.7 to 4.41 micromol acetophenone/10 g of nonirradiated and irradiated chicken meat, respectively, and meat protein ranged from 1.4 to 2.07 and 1.41 to 2.72 micromol/10 g meat. Infusion of chicken meat with selected plant extracts is an effective method to minimize lipid oxidation and volatiles developments caused by irradiation.     

Free polyunsaturated fatty acids cause taste deterioration of salmon during frozen storage

Increased intensity of train oil taste, bitterness, and metal taste are the most pronounced sensory changes during frozen storage of salmon (Refsgaard, H. H. F.; Brockhoff, P. B.; Jensen, B. Sensory and Chemical Changes in Farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) during Frozen Storage. J. Agric. Food Chem. 1998a, 46, 3473-3479). Addition of each of the unsaturated fatty acids: palmitoleic acid (16:1, n - 7), linoleic acid (C18:2, n - 6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5, n - 3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6, n - 3) to fresh minced salmon changed the sensory perception and increased the intensity of train oil taste, bitterness, and metal taste. The added level of each fatty acid ( approximately 1 mg/g salmon meat) was equivalent to the concentration of the fatty acids determined in salmon stored as fillet at -10 degrees C for 6 months. The effect of addition of the fatty acids on the intensity of train oil taste, bitterness and metal taste was in the order: DHA > palmitoleic acid > linoleic acid > EPA. Formation of free fatty acids was inhibited by cooking the salmon meat before storage. Furthermore, no changes in phospholipid level were observed during frozen storage. The results suggest that enzymatic hydrolysis of neutral lipids plays a major role in the sensory deterioration of salmon during frozen storage.     

Antioxidant effect of phenolic compounds, alpha-tocopherol, and other minor components in virgin olive oil

The effect of acidity, squalene, hydroxytyrosol, aldehydic form of oleuropein aglycon, hydroxytyrosyl acetate, tyrosol, homovanillic acid, luteolin, apigenin, alpha-tocopherol, and the mixtures hydroxytyrosol/hydroxytyrosyl acetate, hydroxytyrosol/tyrosol, and hydroxytyrosol/alpha-tocopherol on the oxidative stability of an olive oil matrix was evaluated. A purified olive oil was spiked with several concentrations of these compounds and, then, subjected to an accelerated oxidation in a Rancimat apparatus at 100 degrees C. Acidity, squalene, homovanillic acid, and apigenin showed negligible effect. At the same millimolar concentrations, the different o-diphenolic compounds yielded similar and significant increases of the induction time, alpha-tocopherol a lesser increase, and tyrosol a scarce one. At low concentrations of o-diphenols and alpha-tocopherol, a linear relationship between induction time and concentration was found, but at high concentrations the induction time tended toward constant values. To explain this behavior, a kinetic model was applied. The effect of the mixtures hydroxytyrosol/hydroxytyrosyl acetate was similar to that of a single o-diphenol at millimolar concentration equal to the sum of millimolar concentrations of both compounds. Concentrations of tyrosol >0.3 mmol/kg increase the induction time by 3 h. The mixtures hydroxytyrosol/alpha-tocopherol showed opposite effects depending on the relative concentrations of both antioxidants; so, at hydroxytyrosol concentrations <0.2 mmol/kg, the addition of alpha-tocopherol increased the induction time, whereas at higher hydroxytyrosol concentrations, the alpha-tocopherol diminished the stability.