Phytosterol Content Research Articles

Simultaneous Analysis of Free/Combined Phytosterols in Rapeseed and Their Dynamic Changes during Microwave Pretreatment and Oil Processing

Here, a simple, efficient, and rapid solid phase extraction-gas chromatography (SPE–GC) method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of free/combined phytosterols in rapeseed and their dynamic changes during microwave pretreatment and oil processing. First, by comparing different methods for extracting free/combined phytosterols from rapeseed and rapeseed cake, the Folch method was considered to be the optimal method and was selected in subsequent experiments. Subsequently, the extraction method was validated by determining the recoveries of standards (brassinosterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol and cholesteryl oleate) spiked in rapeseed and rapeseed oil samples, and the recoveries were in the range from 82.7% to 104.5% and 83.8% to 116.3%, respectively. The established method was applied to study the dynamic changes of the form and content of phytosterols in rapeseed and its products (rapeseed oil and cake) during rapeseed microwave pretreatment and the oil production process. Additionally, the results showed that more than 55% of the free/combined phytosterols in rapeseed were transferred to rapeseed oil during the oil processing, and this proportion will increase after microwave pretreatment of rapeseed. This work will provide analytical methods and data support for a comprehensive understanding of phytosterols in rapeseed and its products during oil processing.

Micro‐encapsulation of gurum (Citrullus lanatus Var. Colocynthoide) seed oil maintains functional quality characteristics during accelerated storage

SummaryIn this study, microencapsulation was used on gurum seed oil (GSO) to evaluate quality characteristics during accelerated storage at 60°C for 28 days. Accelerated storage altered the levels of all fatty acids of GSO (31.36–95.65%), whereas, those of microencapsulated GSO showed reduced changes (0.13–38.46%). At the beginning of storage, the tocopherol and phytosterol content of GSO (563.61 and 149.86 mg/100 g oil, respectively) was significantly higher than that of MGSO (425.30 and 132.21 mg/100 g oil, respectively), while the polyphenol contents of GSO and MGSO were 20.21 mg GAE/kg oil and 19.45 mg GAE/kg oil, respectively. The IC50% DPPH antiradical activity of GSO and MGSO was 20.89 and 19.31 mg/mL, respectively, which was increased for GSO and remained constant for MGSO during accelerated storage. In conclusion, microencapsulation effectively preserved the quality of GSO during accelerated storage at 60°C for up to 28 days.

Molecular composition of particulate organic matter in surface waters of the Harima-Nada, Seto Inland Sea, Japan

The coastal ocean is an important component of the global carbon budget and contains both terrestrial and internally produced organic matter. The use of specific organic compounds to estimate the origin of the carbon can improve understanding of organic material cycling in coastal ecosystems and the origins of food resources consumed by suspension feeders. In this study, samples of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in surface waters were collected in summer from the Harima-Nada, Seto Inland Sea, and spatial variations in the distributions of organic compounds were investigated and compared with that of chlorophyll as an indicator of primary production. High chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations were associated with riverine nutrient inputs in the northern Harima-Nada and with a tidal front in the south. Sterols, fatty acids, phytol, and lignin phenols were identified in the SPM samples. Short-chain fatty acids were dominant, with minor amounts of lignin phenols; this result indicates that the major carbon source of the SPM was aquatic organisms, especially microalgae. This interpretation is consistent with the bulk geochemical tracer results. Phytol showed a strong positive linear correlation with Chl a. The major sterols in the SPM samples were 4-methylsterols and 24-methylenecholesterol, which are derived mainly from dinoflagellates and diatoms, respectively. The strong correlation between phytosterol contents and Chl a indicates that total phytosterols reflect the total microalgal community abundance. The relative proportions of 4-methylsterols and other sterols were used to estimate the contributions of dinoflagellates and diatoms to Chl a: 34% of the total mean Chl a concentration was estimated to be derived from dinoflagellates and 66% from diatoms and other phytoplankton. This result is consistent with the reported occurrence of a red tide due to dinoflagellates on the day of observation.

Phytosterol and Polyphenol Contents and Quinoa Leave Yields Variation in Relationships to Variety, Density and Harvesting Date

Quinoa is an Andean grain known for its gluten-free grains, which are used as a functional food. The aim of this research was to study the possibility of introducing quinoa as a vegetable crop grown for young leaves as a source of polyphenols and phytosterols. To achieve this goal, a field experiment was performed with three quinoa cultivars (Titicaca, Puno, and Vikinga) grown in a split plot design. The experimental factors included three densities (160, 320, and 760 plants·m−2) and two harvest dates (52 and 62 days after sowing (DAS)). The content of phytosterols (ergosterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol and campesterol) and polyphenols (ferulic acid, isoquercitrin and rutozid) in quinoa leaves were determined by HPLC method. The phytosterol content varied within the limits: ergosterol 0–7.62 µg·100 g−1 dw, stigmasterol 79.9–175.3 µg·100 g−1 dw, β-sitosterol 425.7–623.1 µg·100 g−1 dw and campesterol 0–5.25 µg·100 g−1 dw. Ferulic acid varied greatly from 38.0 to 63.3 µg·g−1 dw, isoquercitrin ranged from 63 to 101.6 µg·g−1 dw and rutozid varied widely from 32.9 to 162.8 µg·g−1 dw. The total phytosterols and the total phenolic compounds decreased with decreasing plant number density and DAS. This research demonstrated that young quinoa leaves are a good source of phytosterols and phenolics for human consumption.

High Levels of Policosanols and Phytosterols from Sugar Mill Waste by Subcritical Liquefied Dimethyl Ether.

Extracting nutraceuticals with high value from bagasse, filter mud, and sugarcane leaves discarded as sugar mill by-products, is crucial for the development of a sustainable bio-economy. These by-products are important sources of policosanols and phytosterols, which have a cholesterol-lowering effect. This research focused on using a promising green technology, subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction, with a low pressure of 0.8 MPa, to extract policosanols and phytosterols and on application of pretreatments to increase their contents. For direct extraction by subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether without sample pretreatment, the highest extraction yield (7.4%) and policosanol content were found in sugarcane leaves at 2888 mg/100 g, while the highest and lowest phytosterol contents were found in filter mud at 20,878.75 mg/100 g and sugarcane leaves at 10,147.75 mg/100 g, respectively. Pretreatment of filter mud by ultrasonication in hexane solution together with transesterification before the second subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction successfully increased the policosanol content, with an extract purity of 60%, but failed to increase the phytosterol content.

Characterization of lipid compositions, minor components and antioxidant capacities in macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) oil from four major areas in China

Macadamia is rich in lipids and considered as a source of high-quality oil. In this study, fatty acids, triacylglycerols, minor components and antioxidant activities of macadamia oils (MOs) from four cultivated regions (YN: Yunnan Province; GZ: Guizhou Province; GX: Guangxi Province; GD: Guangdong Province) in China were systematically analyzed by modern chromatography (Gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ultraviolet spectroscopy). The analysis indicated macadamia oil enriched in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), including 62.4%–65.6% oleic acid and 11.4%–17.3% palmitoleic acid. Among the four cultivated regions, the MO from YN exhibited the highest contents of UFA (85.0%) and palmitoleic acid. In addition, the minor components and antioxidant activities of MO from four cultivation areas showed a significant difference, which GX-MO had the highest contents of α-tocotrienols (58.9 mg/kg) and phytosterols (2310.4 mg/kg), while GZ-MO was rich in squalene (626.7 mg/kg) and YN-MO had the highest levels of polyphenols (71.0 mg GAE/kg) and antioxidant capacity. Based on the correlation analysis, the polyphenols and α-tocotrienols had a remarkable contribution on the antioxidant activities of MO. Furthermore, the cultivation areas of MO can be distinguished according to the analysis of hierachical cluster analysis and principal components. Our studies offer a potential guidance for the identification of MO and its application in food industry.

Controlled flavor release from high internal phase emulsions as fat mimetics based on glycyrrhizic acid and phytosterol

Animal fat as the key component of sensory experience impacts texture, juiciness, and aroma pleasantness of meat, which indicates the necessity of designing fat mimetics in meat alternatives. In this study, high internal phase emulsions (HIPE) with tunable flavor release as fat mimetics based on glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and phytosterol were prepared, and the effects of GA and phytosterol concentrations on the microstructural, rheological, and flavor release properties of HIPE were evaluated. Phytosterol crystals-enriched oil droplets were trapped inside the GA fibrillar matrix as stabilizers. HIPE containing higher GA and phytosterol concentrations exhibited smaller droplet size and better viscoelastic attributes. Additionally, phytosterol played a synergistic role with GA to form a double-fiber microstructure at the oil–water interface. This hierarchical microstructure of oil phase, interface and aqueous phase in the HIPE could regulate the release of hydrophilic and lipophilic meat volatiles. HIPE as fat mimetics with unique microstructure have potential applications in meat alternatives.

Comparison of chemical characterization and oxidative stability of Lycium barbarum seed oils: A comprehensive study based on processing methods

Five different processing methods (cold pressing, hot pressing, solvent extraction, ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction) were evaluated to extract oils from Lycium barbarum (L. barbarum) seeds based on the lipid composition, minor bioactive components, and oxidative stability of oils. A large proportion of unsaturated fatty acids was detected in the L. barbarum seed oil, especially linoleic acid (65.24-66.26%). Minor bioactive components were abundant in L. barbarum seed oils, including tocopherols (292.65-488.49mg/kg), phytosterols (9606.31-166,684.77mg/kg), polyphenols (35.65-113.87mg/kg), and carotenoid (4.17-46.16mg/100g). Specifically, the phytosterol content was higher than that of other common oils. Comparing the different processing techniques, ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction provided the highest extraction yield and recovery. The quantities of tocopherols, phenols, and phytosterols in hot-pressed oil were higher than those in oils extracted from other methods, and thus it had the best oxidative stability. L. barbarum seed oils extracted by different techniques showed various characteristics and could be distinguished through principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: L. barbarum seed oil is a potentially underutilized oil resource with abundant essential fatty acid and phytosterol, which owns great value to apply in the nutritional, cosmetic, and medicinal fields. Hot pressing is an efficient method to produce L. barbarum seed oil for health care with high nutritional value and good quality, which can also be easily implemented on an industrial scale.

Physicochemical characterization and fatty acid profiles of testa oils from various coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) genotypes.

Cocos nucifera (L.) is an important plantation crop with immense but untapped nutraceutical potential. Despite its bioactive potential, the biochemical features of testa oils of various coconut genotypes are poorly understood. Hence, in this study, the physicochemical characteristics of testa oils extracted from six coconut genotypes - namely West Coast Tall (WCT), Federated Malay States Tall (FMST), Chowghat Orange Dwarf (COD), Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD), and two Dwarf × Dwarf (D × D hybrids) viz., Cameroon Red Dwarf (CRD) × Ganga Bondam Green Dwarf (GBGD) and MYD × Chowghat Green Dwarf (CGD) - were analyzed. The proportion of testa in the nuts (fruits) (1.29-3.42%), the proportion of oil in the testa (40.97-50.56%), and biochemical components in testa oils - namely proxidant elements Fe (34.17-62.48 ppm) and Cu (1.63-2.77 ppm), and the total phenolic content (6.84-8.67 mg GAE/100 g), and phytosterol content (54.66-137.73 mg CE/100 g) varied depending on the coconut genotypes. The saturated fatty acid content of testa oils (67.75 to 78.78%) was lower in comparison with that of coconut kernel oils. Similarly, the lauric acid (26.66-32.04%), myristic (18.31-19.60%), and palmitic acid (13.43-15.71%,) content of testa oils varied significantly in comparison with the coconut kernel oils (32-51%, 17-21% and 6.9-14%, respectively). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of 18 phenolic acids in coconut testa oil. Multivariate analysis revealed the biochemical attributes that defined the principal components loadings. Hierarchical clustering analysis of the genotypes showed two distinct clusters. This study reveals the genotypic variations in the nutritionally important biochemical components of coconut testa oils. The relatively high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and polyphenol content in testa oils warrant further investigation to explore their nutraceutical potential. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Soy proteins as vehicles for enhanced bioaccessibility and cholesterol-lowering activity of phytosterols.

The formulation of phytosterol (PS)-enriched functional foods has attracted increasing interest in the recent years, owing to its potential health effects. However, the poor solubility and bioavailability greatly limit PS application in this regard. This study investigated whether soy protein isolate (SPI) could effectively perform as a nanocarrier for improving the water solubility, bioaccessibility, and cholesterol-lowering activity of PSs. In this work, we fabricated SPI-PS nanocomplexes, which not only can enhance the stability and bioaccessibility of PS, but also improve the cholesterol-lowering ability of SPI. This improvement was mainly due to the formation of protein-active substance complexes, through hydrophobic interactions. The complexation with PSs resulted in formation of nanosized particles with greater sizes, lower ζ-potential, and higher surface hydrophobicity. The encapsulation efficiency, loading amount, and solubility of PS were closely related to the applied PS concentration in the mixed dispersions, and the maximal PS solubility in the aqueous phase reached about 1.63 mg mL-1 at the highest PS concentration (2.0mg mL-1 ). The PS molecules in the nanocomplexes were mainly present in the amorphous form. The enhanced in vitro cholesterol-lowering activity of PS nanocomplexes relative to free PS seemed to be closely related to its higher bioaccessibility. The findings are of relevance for the development of food-grade PS ingredients suitable for the formulations of PS-enriched functional foods. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phytochemical Profile and Chemopreventive Properties of Cooked Glutinous Purple Rice Extracts Using Cell-Based Assays and Rat Model.

Purple rice has gained attention for its health promoting potential due to a high content of bioactive phytochemicals. The heat generated during cooking alters the quality and quantity of nutrients and phytochemicals in food. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile and chemopreventive properties of cooked glutinous purple rice using cell-based assays and a rat model. Purple rice was cooked in a rice cooker and was then further extracted with solvents to obtain dichloromethane and methanol extracts. The methanol extracts of glutinous purple rice contained great amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Protocatechuic acid (2.26–5.40 mg/g extract) and cyanidin 3-glucoside (34.3–65.7 mg/g extract) were the major phenolic acid and anthocyanin contents, respectively. After cooking, the content of anthocyanins, γ-oryzanols, and phytosterols decreased, while the amount of some phenolic acid and tocol contents increased. Methanol extracts of glutinous purple rice inhibited reactive oxygen species production about 60% in PMA-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, reduced nitric oxide formation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells (26–39% inhibition), and exhibited antimutagenicity against several mutagens using the Ames test, but dichloromethane extracts presented only mild anti-inflammatory activities. Although methanol extracts induced mild mutagenicity (mutagenic index 2.0–2.5), they did not induce micronucleated hepatocyte formation and certain hepatic CYP450 isozyme activities in rats. However, the mutagenicity of the methanol extract significantly declined after cooking. In summary, the methanol extract of the cooked glutinous purple rice might be a promising cancer chemopreventive fraction, which was neither genotoxic nor posing adverse effects on phytochemical–drug interaction in rats.

Antioxidant activity of edible sprouts and phytosterol contents by HPLC/UV analysis

This study evaluated the in vitro radical scavenging activities of edible tree sprouts, particularly those of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), hydroxyl radical, and singlet oxide radical, to assess their antioxidant activities. Additionally, stigmasterol (ST) and β-sitosterol (BS) were analyzed using HPLC/UV. The edible sprouts of Eleutherococcus senticosus (ESC) and Morus alba (MAB) exhibited the highest DPPH scavenging activity among other edible sprouts. A reverse-phase column was used in an isocratic elution system, after which UV detection was performed at 210 nm. ST and BS analyses indicated that ESC sprouts contained the highest amounts of ST (9.99 mg·g− 1 extract), whereas MAB sprouts contained the highest concentrations of BS (14.69 mg·g− 1 extract). In conclusion, the highest antioxidant activity was observed in the edible sprouts with the highest phytosterol content. Therefore, our findings provide a theoretical basis for the development of plant-based functional foods or supplements with antioxidant properties.

Rediscovery of cold pressed cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum L.) oil: a good source of fat-soluble bioactives with functional and health-enhancing traits

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) fruits or capsules are rich in bioactive phytochemicals with beneficial health impacts. Very few studies reported the chemistry and functionality of Elettaria cardamomum lipids, fixed oil, and cold pressed cardamom oil (CPCO). This work characterized CPCO for its lipid classes, fatty acids, phytosterols, tocols, total phenolics, antiradical potential (toward galvinoxyl and DPPH· radicals), antioxidative effects, and antimicrobial behavior (against foodborne bacteria and dermatophytic fungi). Neutral lipids were detected at the highest amount (ca. 96.6%), followed by glycolipids (ca. 2%) and phospholipids (ca. 1.3%). Oleic (C18:1, 43.7%), palmitic (C16:0, 21.6%), and linoleic (C18:2, 17.6%) were the major fatty acids in CPCO. The levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), saturated fatty acids (SFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were 47%, 32%, and 21%, respectively. CPCO contained large amounts of unsaponifiables (16.4 g/kg). The total content of phytosterols was 222 mg/100 g oil, wherein β-sitosterol was the main compound, followed by sitostanol, campesterol, stigmasterol, Δ5-avenasterol, and citrostadienol. The total content of tocols was 2.38 mg/100 g of oil, and the contents (mg/100 g oil) of α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols in CPCO were 1.25, 0.08, 0.58, and 0.28, respectively. Besides, CPCO contained high amounts of total phenolics (3.9 mg GAE/g oil). CPCO exhibited better antiradical traits than extra virgin olive oil. The induction time (IT) recorded for sunflower oil (SFO) and CPCO blend (9:1, v/v) was 405 min, while the IT for blend) 8:2, v/v) was 532 min. Besides, CPCO showed broad antimicrobial effects against foodborne pathogens (Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli) and dermatophytic fungi (Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum). It could be concluded that CPCO is a good source of lipid-soluble bioactives, making it a unique raw material for novel food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.

Seven underutilized species of the Fabaceae family with high potential for industrial application as alternative sources of oil and lipophilic bioactive compounds

Fabaceae is the third largest family in the plant world, mainly considered a source of relatively valuable plant protein and a rather poor source of oil. The present study shows that several legume species (Bauhinia purpurea, Phanera vahlii, Butea monosperma, Caesalpinia crista, Gliricidia sepium, Mimosa pudica, Millettia pinnata) can be also considered as an alternative source of oil. The oil yield in studied species (19–36%) was similar or even higher than in soybean (Glycine max), the most known representant of the Fabaceae family. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids constitute 87–99% of detected fatty acids with predomination of unsaturated (62–82%). All obtained oils were rich sources of tocopherols (79–187 mg/100 g oil), mainly α (five species) and γ (two species) homologues. With the exception of M. pinnata, where Δ5-stigmasterol (25%) and α-amyrin (26%) were the main phytosterols, β-sitosterol, Δ5-stigmasterol and campesterol constituted 51–96% of total phytosterols with a predomination of β-sitosterol (36–64%). The total carotenoid and phytosterol contents in studied Fabaceae species were in the range 0.6–8.9 and 175–622 mg/100 g oil, respectively. The present study demonstrated that several legume seeds could be considered a valuable source of oil and lipophilic bioactive compounds.

Investigation on Biosynthesis of Phytosterol Compounds in Ayvalık Olive Variety (Olea europaea L.) During Ripening under Conventional and Organic Cultivation Conditions

Olive oil obtained from the fruit of olive trees (Olea europaea L.) belonging to the Oleaceae family; basically consists of two parts: saponifiable and unsaponifiable parts. The saponifiable fraction represents about 98% by weight of the oil. On the contrary, the unsaponifiable fraction constitutes about 2% of the total oil weight. Phytosterols constitute the largest part of the unsaponifiable fraction and are the most important parameter to establish the purity of olive oil. Olive oil quality is affected by many factors, the most important being the ripening stage. Phytosterol content changes with maturation. Because the metabolic events in its structure continue until the fruit ripens. This study was carried out in Ayvalık olive variety grown with organic and conventional growing techniques during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Fruits obtained from Geyikli region of Çanakkale province were harvested in 8 different maturity stages (September– December) at 15-day intervals. Phytosterol contents of fruits and changes in phytosterols in olive ripening process were determined periodically by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometer (GC-MS) technique. At the end of the study, the total phytosterol content of the fruits harvested from both conventional and organic orchards during both production seasons in both years, depending on the maturity index. Phytosterol components were found to increase regularly until December, but it decrease after December. While the maximum total sterol amount was determining 2.008 g kg-1 on 08.12.2019, it was 2.520 g kg-1 on 06.12.2020. After this date, it was observed that the total sterol content decreased as a result of over-ripening.

Sequential process to obtain fatty acid esters from crambe oil using a mixture of acyl acceptors under pressurized conditions

In this study, the use of a mixture of acyl acceptors (dimethyl carbonate, methanol and ethanol) under pressurized conditions to obtain fatty acid esters (FAEs) was investigated. The influence of varying the proportions of acyl acceptors and the temperature applied in the reaction was evaluated using commercial oil. For the proportions that resulted in the maximum FAE yield (YFAE), the crambe oil was extracted using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and characterized. The extraction product (oil + acyl acceptors) was then subjected to the reaction step. The addition of alcohols to dimethyl carbonate favored the YFAE, a higher proportion of ethanol made the reaction product less susceptible to thermal decomposition and it was possible to obtain ~86 % of YFAE at 275 ºC. The oil obtained in the PLE had higher contents of phytosterols and γ-tocopherol. Thus, the extraction product had greater stability and YFAE of ~94 % was obtained without thermal decomposition.

Garland chrysanthemum consumption ameliorates age-related hearing loss in C57BL/6 mouse; model system to explore hearing loss prevention foods in a short period.

Garland chrysanthemum (Glebionis coronaria L.) is an antioxidant-rich leafy vegetable. We found that garland chrysanthemum consumption ameliorated age-related hearing loss (AHL) in C57BL/6J mice, an early onset model. We also found that AHL progression was significantly ameliorated by three of ten products. Metabolome analysis of the 10 products using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy indicated that phytosterols may be involved in the amelioration of AHL. However, the direct inhibitory effect of phytosterol mixture on mouse AHL progression was not identified. These results suggest that garland chrysanthemum consumption delays AHL development in mice and its efficiency varies depending on the source of the product. Our findings also suggest that phytosterol content in garland chrysanthemum functions as an evaluation marker for the efficiency. Furthermore, to accelerate the search for foods that prevent AHL, we have used these data to develop an automatic threshold determination method for auditory brainstem response using machine learning.

Comprehensive evaluation of chemical composition and health-promoting effects with chemometrics analysis of plant derived edible oils.

In the last decade, with a growing emphasis on healthy diets, functional edible oils with high nutritional quality are becoming increasingly popular around the world. This study systematically compared the chemical composition and protective effect of 22 vegetable oils using multivariate chemometric tools. The results showed that the fatty acid composition and minor compounds were extremely variable among tested oils. Hierarchical cluster and principal component analysis discriminated these oils according to the tocopherol and phytosterol contents. The Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that in vitro radical scavenging capacity was significantly correlated to polyphenol, tocopherol, and squalene. Additionally, the ameliorate effects on the heat and oxidative stress, ROS contents, and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured in Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that the antioxidant activity and stress resistance were positively correlated to polyphenol, tocopherol, phytosterol, MUFA, and PUFA, respectively. This study may offer an insight into oil discrimination and functional oil exploitation.

Relationship between phytosterol intake and cardiovascular disease in the adult Polish population

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Plant sterols are compounds with multiple biological functions, mainly cholesterol-reducing. Although phytosterols lower LDL-cholesterol, their relationship to cardiovascular risk is unclear. Purpose To assess dietary total phytosterol, β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol and to determine the relationship between total plant sterols and the chance of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the adult Polish population. Methods Within the frame of the National Multicenter Health Survey (WOBASZ II), a random sample of the whole Polish population aged 20 years and above was screened during the years 2013-2014. Dietary habits and an interview of a history of CVD were assessed in 2554 men and 3136 women. The international food databases were used to develop a database on plant sterols in the products consumed in Poland. Plant sterols were calculated from the amount of food consumed by the participants combined with the phytosterol content of the food. The subjects were divided according to the tertiles of total phytosterol intake – 1st tertile (mean [mg/day]); 153 (men 174; women 141); 2nd tertile – 257 (293; 233 respectively), and 3rd tertile 439 (496; 383). The logistic regression method was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of the occurrence of CVD in phytosterol tertiles after adjustment for age, BMI and consumption of lipid-lowering drugs, fiber, and alcohol. Results The average total plant sterol intake [mg/day] was significantly lower in subjects with CVD than in subjects without CVD (men 299 vs 326, p= 0.0016 and women 238 vs 256, p= 0.0016); β-sitosterol (186 vs 201, p= 0.0062 and 149 vs 160 p= 0.0016 respectively), campesterol (63.2 vs 70.6; p=0.0044 and 46.8 vs 51.9 p= 0.0015) and stigmasterol (24.2 vs 26.9; p=0.0017; 20.7 vs 23.1 p=0.0023). In the whole group there was a significantly lower OR=0.695 (0.528-0.916) of developing CVD in the third tertile compared to the first. In men, the odds ratios of CVD were significantly lower in the second tertile OR=0.637 (95%CI 0.445-0.911) and in the third tertile OR=0.581 (95%CI 0.372-0.907) compared to the first tertile. In women, the trends were similar, although no significant differences were shown – in the second tertile OR = 0.927 (95% CI 0.695-1.237) and in the third tertile OR=0.843 (95%CI 0.600-1.184). In addition, there was a better overall quality of nutrition in people in the third tertile of phytosterol intake compared to the first tertile. Conclusion The content of phytosterols in the diet may determine the chance of developing CVD, especially in men.

Comparison of chemical and nutritional compositions between aromatic and non-aromatic rice from Brazil and effect of planting time on bioactive compounds

The objective of this work was to investigate and characterize new rice cultivars still little explored and never reported in the literature but of nutritional and economic potential. For this, the Brazilian cultivars IAC 500 (aromatic) and IAC 2157 (non-aromatic) were analyzed and compared regarding their proximate composition, amylose content, fatty acid composition, vitamin E content, and glycemic and insulinemic responses. An additional goal of the work was to analyze the influence of the planting month on the contents of minerals, phytosterols, and free phenolic compounds from the cultivars planted under the same conditions at four different months of the year. This work presents the first report of the chemical characterization of the Brazilian aromatic rice IAC 500, that present higher ash, protein, lipid, α-tocopherol, and unsaturated fatty acid levels compared with the Brazilian non-aromatic rice IAC 2157. The planting time quantitatively influenced the bioactive compounds, but there was no consensus regarding the best planting time to maximize the content of the analyzed compounds. The main finding of the study is that the ingestion of aromatic rice resulted in a lower insulinemic response compared to non-aromatic rice. Future research is needed to investigate the observed difference in pancreatic insulin release after consumption of aromatic rice.