Butter Blends Research Articles

Impaired Postprandial Endothelial Function Depends on the Type of Fat Consumed by Healthy Men

Postprandial lipemia impairs endothelial function possibly via an oxidative stress mechanism. A stearic acid-rich triacylglycerol (TAG) (shea butter) results in a blunted postprandial increase in plasma TAG compared with an oleic acid-rich TAG; however, its acute effects on endothelial function and oxidative stress are unknown. A randomized crossover trial (n = 17 men) compared the effects of 50 g fat, rich in stearic acid [shea butter blend (SA)] or oleic acid [high oleic sunflower oil (HO)], on changes in endothelial function [brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD)], arterial tone [pulse wave analysis (PWA), and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWVc-f)], and oxidative stress (plasma 8-isoprostane F2 α) at fasting and 3 h following the test meals. The postprandial increase in plasma TAG was lower (66% lower incremental area under curve) following the SA meal [28.3 (9.7, 46.9)] than after the HO meal [83.4 (57.0, 109.8); P < 0.001] (geometric means with 95% CI, arbitary units). Following the HO meal, there was a decrease in FMD [−3.0% (−4.4, −1.6); P < 0.001] and an increase in plasma 8-isoprostane F2 α [10.4ng/L (3.8, 16.9); P = 0.005] compared with fasting values, but no changes followed the SA meal. The changes in 8-isoprostane F2 α and FMD differed between meals and were 14.0 ng/L (6.4, 21.6; P = 0.001) and 1.75% (0.10, 3.39; P = 0.02), respectively. The reductions in PWA and PWV c-f did not differ between meals. This study demonstrates that a stearic acid-rich fat attenuates the postprandial impairment in endothelial function compared with an oleic acid-rich fat and supports the hypothesis that postprandial lipemia impairs endothelial function via an increase in oxidative stress.

Butter Blend Containing Fish Oil Improves the Level of n-3 Fatty Acids in Biological Tissues of Hamster

Many studies have shown beneficial effects of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on human health. Regardless of the positive effects of n-3 PUFA, the intake of these fatty acids remains low. An approach to increase the intake of n-3 PUFA in the population is to incorporate fish oil into food. In the present study, fish oil was incorporated into butter blends by enzymatic interesterification. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of this butter product in comparison with a commercial butter blend and a product produced by interesterification but without fish oil. Golden Syrian hamsters received hamster feed blended with one of the three butter products. After 6 weeks of feeding, the fatty acid compositions of plasma, erythrocytes, liver, brain, and visceral fat were determined. The intake of butter product with fish oil resulted in a higher level of n-3 PUFA in plasma, erythrocytes, and liver. The incorporation of n-3 PUFA was significantly higher in phospholipids than in triacylglycerols. The results suggest that enriching butter blends with small amounts of fish oil can be used as an alternative method for improving the level of n-3 PUFA in biological tissues.

The cooling rate effect on the microstructure and rheological properties of blends of cocoa butter with vegetable oils

Abstract The elasticity (G′) and yield stress (σ∗) of blends of cocoa butter (CB) in vegetable oils (i.e., 30% CB/canola and 30% CB/soybean oil) crystallized at temperatures (TCr) between 9.5 °C and 13.5 °C and two cooling rates (1 °C/min and 5 °C/min) were determined, evaluating their relationship with parameters associated with the formation and structural organization of the crystal network [i.e., solid fat content (SFC), Avrami index, crystallization rate, fractal dimension (D)]. The results showed that TCr and cooling rate had a different effect for each blend on the three-dimensional organization of the crystal network, and on the proportion and size of β′ and β crystals. Thus, under low supercooling conditions at both cooling rates, the crystallized CB/canola oil blend was formed by a mixture of small β′ and large β crystals that provided high G′ and σ∗ at low SFC (i.e., 20.5–20.9%) and D (i.e., 1.66–1.72) values. The CB/soybean oil blend achieved similar G′ and σ∗ independent of cooling rate only at high supercooling. In this case, the crystal network was formed mainly by small β′ crystals with SFC (i.e., 25.4–26.3%) and D (i.e., 2.86–2.79) values higher (P

Oxidative stability of diacylglycerol oil and butter blends containing diacylglycerols

AbstractDiacylglycerol (DAG) oils produced from sunflower oil and traditional sunflower oil were stored for 20 wk at 38 °C, and their oxidative stability was measured. Moreover, two butter blends were produced containing 40 wt‐% DAG oil made from sunflower oil or rapeseed oil, respectively, as well as two control butter blends with sunflower oil or rapeseed oil. Their oxidative stability during storage at 5 °C for up to 12 wk was examined by similar means as for the pure oils. The storage study of the oils indicated that the DAG oil was oxidatively less stable as compared to sunflower oil, but that they had similar sensory quality. Storage of the butter blends revealed that blends with the two types of rapeseed oil (triacylglycerol (TAG) or DAG oil) were oxidatively more stable than the blends containing oils from sunflower. There was no unambiguous indication of DAG butter blends having a different stability than their respective control TAG blends. However, they had a significantly less salty and buttery flavour, which was ascribed to a much smaller water droplet size causing a delayed sensory perception in the mouth. The butter blend with DAG oil from rapeseed had a very neutral flavour. On the contrary, the butter blend with DAG oil from sunflower had a more rancid aroma and flavour than its control blend with sunflower oil.

The effect of supercooling on crystallization of cocoa butter‐vegetable oil blends

AbstractThe solid fat content (SFC), Avrami index (n), crystallization rate (z), fractal dimension (D), and the pre‐exponential term [log(γ)] were determined in blends of cocoa butter (CB) with canola oil or soybean oil crystallized at temperatures (TCr) between 9.5 and 13.5°C. The relationship of these parameters with the elasticity (G′) and yield stress (σ*) values of the crystallized blends was investigated, considering the equilibrium melting temperature (TMo) and the supercooling (i.e., TCro−TMo) present in the blends. In general, supercooling was higher in the CB/soybean oil blend [TMo=65.8°C (±3.0°C)] than in the CB/canola oil blend [TMo=33.7°C (±4.9°C)]. Therefore, under similar TCr values, higher SFC and z values (P&lt;0.05) were obtained with the CB/soybean oil blend. However, independent of TCr TAG followed a spherulitic crystal growth mechanism in both blends. Supercooling calculated with melting temperatures from DSC thermograms explained the SFC and z behavior just within each blend. However, supercooling calculated with TMo explained both the SFC and z behavior within each blend and between the blends. Thus, independent of the blend used, SFC described the behavior of G′eq and σ* and pointed out the presence of two supercooling regions. In the lower supercooling region, G′eq and σ* decreased as SFC increased between 20 and 23%. In this region, the crystal network structures were formed by a mixture of small β′ crystals and large β crystals. In contrast, in the higher supercooling region (24 to 27% SFC), G′eq and σ* had a direct relationship with SFC, and the crystal network structure was formed mainly by small β′ crystals. However, we could not find a particular relationship that described the overall behavior of G′eq and σ* as a function of D and independent of the system investigated.

Dietary fat source and cholesterol interactions alter plasma lipids and tissue susceptibility to oxidation in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats.

Due to the potential for dietary fat source to alter plasma lipids and tissue antioxidant status, we hypothesized that blends of saturated, n-6 and n-3 fats with cholesterol would affect LDL and tissue susceptibility to in vitro oxidation. The effects of dietary fat blends of butter (B), beef tallow (T), soybean oil (SBO) or menhaden oil (MO) and cholesterol on systolic blood pressure (SBP), plasma lipoproteins and tissue susceptibility to glutathione (GSH) depletion and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) were examined in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. SBP in SHRs was higher (p < 0.001) than in WKYs at 13-weeks of age but was not altered by dietary fat or cholesterol. LDL- and HDL-cholesterol were greater (p < 0.001) in WKY than SHR. LDL-cholesterol and (VLDL- + LDL-cholesterol)/HDL-cholesterol ratios were reduced in MO vs. B, T and SBO groups. HDL-cholesterol levels tended to be lower and greater in B and MO groups, respectively vs. T and SBO groups. Initial LDL fluorescence was greater (p < 0.001) in high- vs. low-cholesterol groups. The change in LDL fluorescence was reduced (p < 0.001) in high-cholesterol groups, and MO vs. B, T and SBO rats. MO fed rats had reduced (p < 0.001) RBC, heart and liver GSH depletion and reduced (p < 0.01) tissue TBARS and RBC MDA production. In summary, a moderate level of dietary MO did not increase tissue and LDL in vitro oxidizability in SHR and WKY rats. High dietary cholesterol exhibited a protective effect against in vitro oxidation of LDL and selected tissues.

Effects of minor lipids on crystallization of milk fat‐cocoa butter blends and bloom formation in chocolate

AbstractMinor lipids, such as diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols, cholesterol, and phospholipids play a key role in crystallization of fats. In this study, the effects of minor lipid components on crystallization of blends of cocoa butter (CB) with 10% milk fat or milk‐fat fractions, and on bloom formation of chocolate were investigated. Both removing the minor lipids from milk fat and doubling the level of minor lipids from milk fat resulted in longer nucleation onset time, slower crystallization rate, and rapid bloom development in chocolate. Removal of minor lipids resulted in the formation of irregular primary and secondary crystals with inclusions of liquid fat, whereas the crystals were spherical and uniform in shape in the presence of minor lipids. Minor lipids from milk fat, even at the low concentrations typically found in nature, affected the crystallization of milk fat‐CB blends, impacted the chocolate microstructure, and affected bloom development in chocolate.

Thermal analysis of isothermal crystallization kinetics in blends of cocoa butter with milk fat or milk fat fractions

AbstractThe kinetics of isothermal crystallization of binary mixtures of cocoa butter with milk fat and milk fat fractions were evaluated by applying the Avrami equation. Application of the Avrami equation to isothermal crystallization of the fats and the binary fat blends revealed different nucleation and growth mechanisms for the fats, based on the Avrami exponent. The suggested mechanism for cocoa butter crystallization was heterogeneous nucleation and spherulitic growth from sporadic nuclei. For milk fat, the mechanism was instantaneous heterogeneous nucleation followed by spherulitic growth. For milk fat fractions, the mechanism was high nucleation rate at the beginning of crystallization, which decreased with time, and plate‐like growth. Addition of milk fat fractions did not cause a significant change in the suggested nucleation and growth mechanism of cocoa butter.

Chemical and physical characteristics of cocoa butter substitutes, milk fat and malaysian cocoa butter blends

AbstractTwo ternary systems of confectionery fats were studied. In the first system, lauric cocoa butter substitutes (CBS), anhydrous milk fat (AMF), and Malaysian cocoa butter (MCB) were blended. In the second system, high‐melting fraction of milk fat (HMF42) was used to replace AMF and also was blended with CBS and MCB. CBS contained high concentrations of lauric (C12:0) and myristic (C14:0) acids, whereas palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), and oleic (C18:1) acid concentrations were higher in MCB. In addition, AMF and HMF42 contained appreciable amounts of short‐chain fatty acids. CBS showed the highest melting enthalpy (143.1 J/g), followed by MCB (138.8 J/g), HMF42 (97.1 J/g), and AMF (72.9 J/g). The partial melting enthalpies at 20 and 30°C demonstrated formation of a eutectic along the binary blends of CBS/MCB, AMF/MCB, and HMF42/MCB. However, no eutectic effect was observed along the binary lines of AMF/CBS and HMF42/CBS. Characteristics of CBS included two strong spacings at 4.20 and 3.8 Å. MCB showed a strong spacing at 4.60 Å and a weak short‐spacing at 4.20 Å. On the other hand, AMF exhibited a very weak short‐spacing at 4.60 Å and two strong spacings at 4.20 and 3.8 Å, while HMF42 showed an intermediate short‐spacing at 4.60 Å and also two strong short‐spacings at 4.20 and 3.8 Å. Solid fat content (SFC) analyses at 20°C showed that CBS possessed the highest solid fat (91%), followed by MCB (82.4%), HMF42 (41.4%), and AMF (15.6%). However, at 30°C, MCB showed the highest SFC compared to the other fats. Results showed that a higher SFC in blends that contain HMF does not necessarily correlate with a stronger tendency to form the β polymorph.

Crystallization behavior of blends of cocoa butter and milk fat or melk fat fractions

Mixtures of milk fat or milk fat fractions, produced by melt crystallization, and cocoa butter were studied using isothermal calorimetry. Crystallization of cocoa butter (at 15, 20 and 25‡C) was observed, and induction time for nucleation, peak time and amount of heat produced were recorded. Melting profiles and X-ray spectra were also obtained, yielding information about extent of crystallization and type of polymorph obtained. Induction time for nucleation generally increased with increasing temperature. Peak time increased at 15‡C, but decreased at 20‡C. Amount of crystallized fat decreased with increasing level of milk fat.