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.     

Up-regulated desaturase and elongase gene expression promoted accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) but not long-chain PUFA in Lates calcarifer, a tropical euryhaline fish, fed a stearidonic acid- and γ-linoleic acid-enriched diet

The limited activity of Δ6 fatty acid desaturase (FAD6) on α-linolenic (ALA, 18:3n-3) and linoleic (LA, 18:2n-6) acids in marine fish alters the long-chain (≥C(20)) polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) concentration in fish muscle and liver when vegetable oils replace fish oil (FO) in aquafeeds. Echium oil (EO), rich in stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4n-3) and γ-linoleic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6), may enhance the biosynthesis of n-3 and n-6 LC-PUFA by bypassing the rate-limiting FAD6 step. Nutritional and environmental modulation of the mechanisms in LC-PUFA biosynthesis was examined in barramundi, Lates calcarifer , a tropical euryhaline fish. Juveniles were maintained in either freshwater or seawater and fed different dietary LC-PUFA precursors present in EO or rapeseed oil (RO) and compared with FO. After 8 weeks, growth of fish fed EO was slower compared to the FO and RO treatments. Irrespective of salinity, expression of the FAD6 and elongase was up-regulated in fish fed EO and RO diets, but did not lead to significant accumulation of LC-PUFA in the neutral lipid of fish tissues as occurred in the FO treatment. However, significant concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6), but not docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), appeared in liver and, to a lesser extent, in muscle of fish fed EO with marked increases in the phospholipid fraction. Fish in the EO treatment had higher EPA and ARA in their liver phospholipids than fish fed FO. Endogenous conversion of dietary precursors into neutral lipid LC-PUFA appears to be limited by factors other than the initial rate-limiting step. In contrast, phospholipid LC-PUFA had higher biosynthesis, or selective retention, in barramundi fed EO rather than RO.     

Enrichment of eicosapentaenoic acid from sardine oil with Delta5-olefinic bond specific lipase from Bacillus licheniformis MTCC 6824

Lipase derived from Bacillus licheniformis MTCC 6824 was purified to homogeneity by anion exchange chromatography on Amberlite IRA 410 (Cl-) and gel filtration using Sephadex G-100 as judged by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified lipase was used for hydrolysis of triacylglycerol in sardine oil to enrich Delta5-polyunsaturated fatty acids (Delta5-PUFAs) namely, arachidonic acid (5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, ARA, 20:4n-6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, 20:5n-3). The individual fatty acids were determined as fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy as FAMEs and N-acyl pyrrolidides. The enzyme exhibited hydrolytic resistance toward ester bonds of Delta5-PUFAs as compared to those of other fatty acids and was proved to be effective for increasing the concentration of EPA and ARA from sardine oil. Utilizing this fatty acid specificity, EPA and ARA from sardine oil were enriched by lipase-mediated hydrolysis followed by urea fractionation at 4 degrees C. The purified lipase produced the highest degree of hydrolysis for SFAs and MUFAs (81.5 and 72.3%, respectively, from their initial content in sardine oil) after 9 h. The profile of conversion by lipase catalysis showed a steady increase up to 6 h and thereafter plateaued down. Lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of sardine oil followed by urea adduction with methanol provided free fatty acids containing 55.4% EPA and 5.8% ARA, respectively, after complexation of saturated and less unsaturated fatty acids. The combination of enzymatic hydrolysis and urea complexation proved to be a promising method to obtain highly concentrated EPA and ARA from sardine oil.     

Baking reduces prostaglandin, resolvin, and hydroxy-fatty acid content of farm-raised Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

The consumption of seafood enriched in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Several n-3 oxidation products from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) have known protective effects in the vasculature. It is not known whether the consumption of cooked seafood enriched in n-3 PUFA causes appreciable consumption of lipid oxidation products. We tested the hypothesis that baking Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) increases the level of n-3 and n-6 PUFA oxidation products over raw salmon. We measured the contents of several monohydroxy-fatty acids (MHFA), prostanoids, and resolvins. Our data demonstrate that baking did not change the overall total levels of MHFA. However, baking resulted in selective regioisomeric loss of hydroxy fatty acids from arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) and EPA, while significantly increasing hydroxyl-linoleic acid levels. The contents of prostanoids and resolvins were reduced several-fold with baking. The inclusion of a coating on the salmon prior to baking reduced the loss of some MHFA but had no effect on prostanoid losses incurred by baking. Baking did not decrease n-3 PUFA contents, indicating that baking of salmon is an acceptable means of preparation that does not alter the potential health benefits of high n-3 seafood consumption. The extent to which the levels of MHFA, prostanoids, and resolvins in the raw or baked fish have physiologic consequence for humans needs to be determined.     

Effect of diet on the deposition of n-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic and C18:1trans fatty acid isomers in muscle lipids of German Holstein bulls

This study examined the effects of feeding diets rich in either n-3 or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the fatty acid composition of longissimus muscle in beef bulls. Thirty-three German Holstein bulls were randomly allocated to either an indoor concentrate system or periods of pasture feeding (160 days) followed by a finishing period on a concentrate containing linseed to enhance the contents of n-3 PUFA and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) in beef muscle. The relative proportion and concentration (mg/100 g fresh muscle) of n-3 fatty acids in the phospholipid and triglyceride fractions were significantly increased (p < or = 0.05) in muscle lipids of pasture-fed bulls. The pasture feeding affected the distribution of individual CLA isomers in the muscle lipids. The proportion of the most prominent isomer, CLA cis-9,trans-11, was decreased from 73.5 to 65.0% of total CLA in bulls fed on concentrate as compared to pasture. The second most abundant CLA isomers were CLA trans-7,cis-9 and CLA trans-11,cis-13 in bulls fed on concentrate and pasture, respectively. Diet had no effect on the concentration of C18:1 trans-11. In contrast, the concentration of the C18:1 trans-13/14, trans-15, and trans-16 isomers in the muscle lipids was up to two times higher in pasture-fed as compared to concentrate-fed bulls. Pasture feeding enhanced the concentration of n-3 fatty acids, but the diet had no effect on the concentration of CLA cis-9,trans-11.     

Synthesis of structured lipids containing medium-chain and omega-3 fatty acids

The ability of different lipases to incorporate omega3 fatty acids, namely, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, C22:5n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3), into a high-laurate canola oil, known as Laurical 35, was studied. Lipases from Mucor miehei (Lipozyme-IM), Pseudomonas sp. (PS-30), and Candida rugosa (AY-30) catalyzed optimum incorporation of EPA, DPA, and DHA into Laurical 35, respectively. Other lipases used were Candida anatrctica (Novozyme-435) and Aspergillus niger (AP-12). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to obtain a maximum incorporation of EPA, DPA, and DHA into high-laurate canola oil. The process variables studied were the amount of enzyme (2-6%), reaction temperature (35-55 degrees C), and incubation time (12-36 h). The amount of water added and mole ratio of substrates (oil to n-3 fatty acids) were kept at 2% and 1:3, respectively. The maximum incorporation of EPA (62.2%) into Laurical 35 was predicted at 4.36% of enzyme load and 43.2 degrees C over 23.9 h. Under optimum conditions (5.41% enzyme; 38.7 degrees C; 33.5 h), the incorporation of DPA into high-laurate canola oil was 50.8%. The corresponding maximum incorporation of DHA (34.1%) into Laurical 35 was obtained using 5.25% enzyme, at 43.7 degrees C, over 44.7 h. Thus, the number of double bonds and the chain length of fatty acids had a marked effect on the incorporation omega3 fatty acids into Laurical 35. EPA and DHA were mainly esterified to the sn-1,3 positions of the modified oils, whereas DPA was randomly distributed over the three positions of the triacylglycerol molecules. Meanwhile, lauric acid remained esterified mainly to the sn-1 and sn-3 positions of the modified oils. Enzymatically modified Laurical 35 with EPA, DPA, or DHA had higher conjugated diene (CD) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values than their unmodified counterpart. Thus, enzymatically modified oils were more susceptible to oxidation than their unmodified counterparts, when both CD and TBARS values were considered.     

Fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins in salted herring (Clupea harengus) products

The fatty acid composition and contents of fat and fat-soluble vitamins of three salted products prepared from Icelandic herring were analyzed. The effects of storage on the products over their shelf life, 6 or 12 months, were investigated. The average oil content of salted, gutted herring and salted fillets in vacuum remained constant, 17 and 12% of wet weight, respectively. In the pickled product the oil content decreased during the 12 months of storage from 13 to 12%. The composition of the products was typical for herring, the most abundant fatty acids being oleic (18:1n-9), palmitic (16:0), cetoleic (22:1n-11), and gadoleic (20:1n-9) acids. Monounsaturated acids constituted clearly the main group with a proportion of >50% of all fatty acids. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) comprised together >12% of all fatty acids. During storage, some hydrolysis of triacylglycerol (TAG) occurred, causing a slight reduction in practically all esterified fatty acids. In none of the three products was the loss of polyunsaturated fatty acids from TAG greater than the loss of saturated ones, indicating that the loss of EPA and DHA was not due to oxidation. After packing, the average content of vitamins A, D, and E in the products varied between 27 and 87 microg/100 g (wet weight), between 17-28 microg/100 g (wet weight), and between 77-120 microg/100 g (wet weight), respectively. During storage, the level of vitamin A decreased significantly, whereas no loss of vitamin D was observed. The content of vitamin E was low in all products and showed wide variation. When compared to the recommended daily intake, it could be concluded that the products investigated were good and stable sources of long-chain n-3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA) and vitamin D.     

Lipid class composition of the microalga Pavlova lutheri: eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids

The lipid classes of Pavlova lutheri, cultivated in semicontinuous mode, were studied by thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography in attempts to describe the distribution of fatty acid residues within its lipid pool, with special emphasis on eicosapentaenoic (C20:5n-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6n-3, DHA) acids. Neutral lipids and glycolipids were the major constituents and accounted for approximately 57 and 24% of the total fatty acid residues (TFA), respectively. Phospholipids accounted for approximately 10% of TFA. Two lipid classes, acylated steryl glycosides (SG) and diphosphatidylglycerols (DPG), were eventually identified in P. lutheri for the first time. The nonpolar fraction was mainly composed of triacylglycerol (TAG), whereas the polar fraction was mainly composed of monogalactosylacylglycerols (MGDG). The distribution of total EPA and DHA within the lipid pool was calculated in attempts to ascertain the quality of said microalgae as a feed source, as well as the possibility of enhancement of individual fatty acid production and extraction thereafter. EPA was especially concentrated in MGDG (approximately 45%) and TAG (approximately 33%); conversely, DHA was dispersed through various classes, especially within TAG (approximately 27%), DPG (approximately 22%), and betaine lipids (21%).     

Dietary lipid source modulates in vivo fatty acid metabolism in the freshwater fish, Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii)

The aim of the present investigation was to quantify the fate of C18 and long chain polyunsaturated dietary fatty acids in the freshwater fish, Murray cod, using the in vivo, whole-body fatty acid balance method. Juvenile Murray cod were fed one of five iso-nitrogenous, iso-energetic, semipurified experimental diets in which the dietary fish oil (FO) was replaced (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) with a blended vegetable oil (VO), specifically formulated to match the major fatty acid classes [saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and n-6 PUFA] of cod liver oil (FO). However, the PUFA fraction of the VO was dominated by C18 fatty acids, while C20/22 fatty acids were prevalent in the FO PUFA fraction. Generally, there was a clear reflection of the dietary fatty acid composition across each of the five treatments in the carcass, fillet, and liver. Lipid metabolism was affected by the modification of the dietary lipid source. The desaturation and elongation of C18 PUFAs increased with vegetable oil substitution, supported by the occurrence of longer and higher desaturated homologous fatty acids. However, increased elongase and desaturase activity is unlikely to fulfill the gap observed in fatty acid composition resulting from decreased highly unsaturated fatty acids intake.     

Hydroxytyrosol prevents oxidative deterioration in foodstuffs rich in fish lipids

Hydroxytyrosol, a natural phenolic compound obtained from olive oil byproduct, was characterized as an antioxidant in three different foodstuffs rich in fish lipids: (a) bulk cod liver oil (40% of omega-3 PUFAs), (b) cod liver oil-in-water emulsions (4% of omega-3 PUFAs), and (c) frozen minced horse mackerel ( Trachurus trachurus) muscle. Hydroxytyrosol was evaluated at different concentration levels (10, 50, and 100 ppm), and its antioxidant capacity was compared against that of a synthetic phenolic, propyl gallate. Results proved the efficiency of hydroxytyrosol to inhibit the formation of lipid oxidation products in all tested food systems, although two different optimal antioxidant concentrations were observed. In bulk oil and oil-in-water emulsions, a higher oxidative stability was achieved by increasing the concentration of hydroxytyrosol, whereas an intermediate concentration (50 ppm) showed more efficiency, delaying lipid oxidation in frozen minced fish muscle. The endogenous depletion of alpha-tocopherol and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) was also inhibited by supplementing hydroxytyrosol in minced muscle; however, the consumption of the endogenous total glutathione was not efficiently reduced by either hydroxytyrosol or propyl gallate. A concentration of 50 ppm of hydroxytyrosol was best to maintain a longer initial level of alpha-tocopherol (approximately 300 microg/g of fat), whereas both 50 and 100 ppm of hydroxytyrosol were able to preserve completely omega-3 PUFAs. Hydroxytyrosol and propyl gallate showed comparable antioxidant activities in emulsions and frozen fish muscle, and propyl gallate exhibited better antioxidant efficiency in bulk fish oil.     

Restoration of fillet n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid is improved by a modified fish oil finishing diet strategy for atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolts fed palm fatty acid distillate

Reducing the lipid content in fish prior to feeding a fish oil finishing diet (FOFD) has the potential to improve n-3 long-chain (≥ C(20)) polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) restoration. This study had two main objectives: (1) determine whether feeding Atlantic salmon smolt a 75% palm fatty acid distillate diet (75PFAD) improves the apparent digestibility (AD) of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and (2) examine whether a food deprivation period after growth on 75PFAD leads to higher n-3 LC-PUFA restoration in the fillet when applying a FOFD. The AD of SFA was higher for 75PFAD compared to that of a fish oil (FO) diet. The relative level (as % total fatty acids (FA)) of n-3 LC-PUFA was higher in unfed fish compared to that in continuously fed fish after 21 and 28 day FOFD periods, respectively. Our results suggest that a food deprivation period prior to feeding a FOFD improves the efficiency of n-3 LC-PUFA restoration in the fillet of Atlantic salmon smolt.     

Comparison of lipid content and Fatty Acid composition in the edible meat of wild and cultured freshwater and marine fish and shrimps from china

The lipid content and fatty acid composition in the edible meat of twenty-nine species of wild and cultured freshwater and marine fish and shrimps were investigated. Both the lipid content and fatty acid composition of the species were specified due to their unique food habits and trophic levels. Most of the marine fish demonstrated higher lipid content than the freshwater fish, whereas shrimps had the lowest lipid content. All the marine fish and shrimps had much higher total n-3 PUFA than n-6 PUFA, while most of the freshwater fish and shrimps demonstrated much lower total n-3 PUFA than n-6 PUFA. This may be the biggest difference in fatty acid composition between marine and freshwater species. The cultured freshwater fish demonstrated higher percentages of total PUFA, total n-3 PUFA, and EPA + DHA than the wild freshwater fish. Two freshwater fish, including bighead carp and silver carp, are comparable to the marine fish as sources of n-3 PUFA.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) content of the fungus Mortierella alpina isolated from soil

Twenty-five isolates of Mortierella spcies were prepared, which can be used for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)-rich oil for nutritional supplements. The fatty acid contents were determined after heterotrophic fermentation. The content of total fatty acids (TFAs) in the cell dry weight of all isolates including two commercially purchased Mortierella alpina strains ranged from 207.51 to 370.11 mg/g, whereas PUFAs were the dominant fatty acid type. The highest PUFA-containing strain, M. alpina SC9, was identified and confirmed as a new strain of M. alpina through comparison analysis of the sequences of internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.8S rDNA region. During a 7-day fermentation, the PUFAs content of M. alpina SC9 varied between 189.83 and 240.00 mg/g, with a remarkable correlation between the oleic acid (C18:1, OA) and arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6, AA) contents and between the linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, LA) and AA contents, suggesting the PUFA content in the fungus is tightly regulated. This study provides a framework of isolation, identification, and characterization of an important PUFA-producing species, M. alpina.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid enrichment from sardine oil by argentation chromatography

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) derived from chemically hydrolyzed sardine oil was concentrated by urea fractionation using methanol at different temperatures (2, 4, and 6 degrees C) and urea/fatty acid ratios (2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 w/w) and purified by argentation neutral alumina column chromatography. The individual fatty acids were determined as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy as FAME and N-acyl pyrrolidides. In the mass fragmentation pattern of FAME, the base peak was assigned to be the 1-methoxyethenol moiety (m/z = 74) obtained by McLafferty rearrangement. Formation of the cyclic tropylium ion (m/z = 91) in fatty acids with four or more double bonds was apparent in FAME-PUFAs. The base peak of N-acyl pyrrolidides was the McLafferty rearrangement ion, 1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethenol (m/z = 113). The highest concentration of EPA (47.78%) was obtained at the crystallization temperature of 4 degrees C with a urea/fatty acid ratio of 4:1 (w/w) with 93.74% yield. After complexation of saturated and less unsaturated fatty acids by urea complexation, argentation chromatography resulted in an EPA of high purity (99.6%) with an overall recovery of 54.09% using 50% diethyl ether/n-hexane as eluting solvent. The peroxide (POV) and thiobarbituric acid (TBS) values were found to be highest (4.0 mequiv of O2/kg and 5.2 mg of malondialdehyde/kg, respectively) during urea fractionation at the higher crystallization temperature (6 degrees C) and higher urea/fatty acid ratio (4:1). Keywords: Sardine oil; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); fatty acid methyl esters (FAME); urea fractionation; argentation column chromatography.     

Cholesterol and triglyceride reduction in rats fed Matthiola incana seed oil rich in (n-3) fatty acids

Seeds of Matthiola incana contain oil rich (55-65%) in (n-3) linolenic acid. Selected lines were developed and evaluated for their agronomic and chemical parameters. Extracted oil was fed for 6 weeks to rats, which were compared with rats fed a diet containing coconut oil or sunflower oil. Cholesterol levels were significantly lowest in rats fed diets rich in M. incana oil (27% reduction), and triglycerides were significantly lower in rats receiving either M. incana or sunflower oil (36% reduction). The contents of arachidonic acid and other (n-6) fatty acids were significantly the lowest in the liver and plasma of rats that had received M. incana oil. The levels of (n-3) fatty acids were significantly greater in both the liver and plasma of rats fed M. incana oil. The ratio of (n-3)/(n-6) long-chain fatty acids in the plasma was 7 times higher in rats fed with M. incana oil than in those fed with sunflower oil and 6 times higher than in those fed coconut oil. The results demonstrate for the first time a beneficial effect of dietary M. incana oil in reducing cholesterol levels and increasing (n-3) fatty acid levels in the plasma. This new, terrestrial plant source of (n-3) fatty acids could replace marine oils and thereby contribute beneficially to the human diet.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acid content of wild and farmed tilapias in Thailand: effect of aquaculture practices and implications for human nutrition

The total lipid content and fatty acid composition of the muscle tissue of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and of hybrid red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) from different culture systems and from the natural and artificial environment of Thailand were compared. Wild fish and fish reared under the most extensive conditions had a more favorable fatty acid profile for human consumption as they contained higher proportions of 18:3n-3, 20:5n-3, and 22:6n-3, higher n-3/n-6 PUFA ratios, and lower proportions of 18:2n-6. The muscle tissue of intensively cultured fish was characterized by increased fat deposition that was mainly saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and 18:2n-6. It is undesirable for the consumer to reduce 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in farmed tilapia and replace them with elevated 18:2n-6. It is recommended that the amount of 18:2n-6 in the feed of the intensively reared tilapia should be reduced by substituting vegetable oils rich in 18:2n-6 with oils rich in 18:1n-9 and/or 18:3n-3.     

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.     

Tailoring of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) flesh lipid composition and sensory quality by replacing fish oil with a vegetable oil blend

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) juveniles were fed either 100% fish oil (FO), 75% vegetable oil (VO), or 100% VO throughout their life cycle to harvest weight followed by a finishing diet period when all groups were fed 100% FO. The two experimental VO diets were tested at two different locations (Scotland and Norway) against the same control diet (100% FO). The VO blend was composed of rapeseed oil, palm oil, and linseed oil using capelin oil as a control for fatty acid class compositions. Flesh fatty acid profiles were measured regularly throughout the experiment, with the times of sampling determined by changes in pellet size/lipid content and fish life stage. Growth and mortality rates were not significantly affected by dietary fatty acid compositions throughout the life cycle, except during the seawater winter period in Norway when both growth and protein utilization were increased in salmon fed 100% VO compared to 100% FO. Flesh fatty acid composition was highly influenced by that of the diet, and after the finishing diet period the weekly intake recommendations of very long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (VLCn-3 PUFA) for human health were 80 and 56% satisfied by a 200 g meal of 75% VO and 100% VO flesh, respectively. No effect on flesh astaxanthin levels was observed in relation to changing dietary oil sources. Sensory evaluation showed only minor differences between salmon flesh from the dietary groups, although prior to the finishing diet period, flesh from 100% VO had less rancid and marine characteristics and was preferred over flesh from the other dietary groups by a trained taste panel. After the finishing diet period, the levels of typical vegetable oil fatty acids in flesh were reduced, whereas those of VLCn-3 PUFA increased to levels comparable with a 100% FO fed salmon. No differences in any of the sensory characteristics were observed between dietary groups. By blending VOs to provide balanced levels of dietary fatty acids, up to 100% of the fish oil can be replaced by the VO blend without compromising growth or flesh quality. At the same time, 75% of the dietary fish oil can be replaced without compromising flesh VLCn-3 PUFA content, thereby providing a beneficial nutritional profile for human consumption.     

Upgrading of maatjes herring byproducts: production of crude fish oil

Fish oil has been extracted from byproducts of the maatjes (salted) herring production using a pilot plant consisting of a mincer, heat exchanger, and three-phase decanter. The crude herring oil obtained had an initial peroxide value (PV), anisidine value (AV) and free fatty acids (FFA) level of only 3 mequiv of peroxide/kg of lipid, 8.9, and 2.9%, respectively. 5,8,11,14,17-Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were present in considerable amounts (99 and 91 g/kg, respectively). During storage of the oil, no photooxidation could be detected. Storage at room temperature led to significant autoxidation over time, apparent from primary and tertiary oxidation products, measured by a decrease of hydroperoxides and an increase of fluorescent compounds (FC). Storage at 50 degrees C resulted in significant increases in secondary (AV) and tertiary oxidation (FC) products. At all storage conditions, the FFA contents remained low (<3%) and the alpha-tocopherol content remained constant. These results open the possibility for fish oil production of good quality using salted herring byproducts.     

Fatty acid composition and antioxidant levels in muscle tissue of different Mediterranean marine species of fish and shellfish

The levels of hydrophilic, lipophilic, and enzymatic antioxidants, as well as the fatty acids composition, of triglyceride and phospholipid fractions were determined in the muscle tissue of 21 species of teleosts, 3 species of cephalopods, and 6 species of crustaceans, just caught from the central Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea). The enzymatic activities and the levels of low-molecular-weight antioxidants, and the percentages of fatty acids, showed marked interspecies differences. Our results showed that total polyunsaturated fatty acids (21.7-61.5%) were the highest, followed by saturated (16.9-41.3%) and monounsaturated (9.1-42.8%) fatty acids. The total n-3 fatty acids content (16.6-57.1%) was found to be higher than the total n-6 fatty acids content (4.1-10.6%). All of the species studied had an n-3/n-6 ratio of more than 1, confirming the great importance of fish and shellfish as a significant dietary source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their beneficial role in the Mediterranean type of diet.