Saturated Fatty Acid Content Research Articles

Nutri-Score in the European Food Retail Supply: A Potential Incentive for Food Reformulation?

Background: To improve consumers’ diet, policy measures such as food reformulation strategies and front-of-pack nutritional labels (FOPNLs) are implemented, aiming to guide consumers’ food choice and to stimulate an improvement in food composition by manufacturers. The FOPNL Nutri-Score has been implemented in several European countries. Changes in food compositions in relation to the Nutri-Score over time have been limitedly studied. This study evaluates food compositions in Europe over time, and if changes in compositions of the food supply could have potentially resulted in changes in Nutri-Score classifications of foods. Materials and Methods: Food composition data were available from EUREMO, from which bread products, breakfast cereals, hot sauces, and processed potato products from Austria, Belgium, Finland, Italy, and the United Kingdom from 2019 to 2021 were selected (n = 2260). Of these countries, only Belgium had implemented the Nutri-Score in 2019. Distributions of food compositions and Nutri-Score classifications were calculated and changes in median salt, sugar, and saturated fatty acids content were plotted by food group, country and year. Distribution of the final sum of Nutri-Score points was plotted by nutrient, food group, country and year. Results: Overall, more favourable Nutri-Score classifications (i.e., towards Nutri-Score classification A) were observed in most of the selected food groups and countries over the years, due to the influence of specific nutrients such as salt in breakfast cereals (lower median of 0.1–0.4 g/100 g) and processed potato products (lower median of 0.1–1.2 g/100 g); and sugar in processed potato products (lower median of 0.1–1.9 g/100 g) and bread products (lower median of 0.7–2.2 g/100 g). For nutrient contents in other food groups, no consistent changes were observed. Conclusions: Changes in the compositions of the food supply resulted in favourable changes in Nutri-Score classifications, suggesting a potential for food reformulation. Monitoring after the actual implementation of Nutri-Score is recommended.

Essential and Nonessential Elements, Lipids and Volatile Compounds in Coffee and Transfer to Coffee Brews: Assessment of the Benefits and Potential Risks for Human Health

ABSTRACTCoffee is a popular beverage with significant commercial and social importance. The study aimed to determine the fatty acids profile, volatile compounds, and concentration of major and trace elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, P, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb) in the two most important varieties of coffee, namely arabica and robusta. The leaching percentages of mineral elements and the effect of boiling time on the transfer of elements to aqueous extracts were also determined. In terms of fatty acids profile, the robusta variety was found to have a higher content of saturated fatty acids (46.68%) compared to the arabica variety (44.38%), whereas arabica contained a higher amount of omega‐6. Regarding the volatile compounds, arabica contained higher amounts of pyrazines (36%), ketones (5.4%), and furans (37.8%). The average contents of the major elements in roasted coffee (arabica and robusta) decreased in the order K > P > S > Mg > Ca > Na, while the trace elements content exhibited a decrease in the order Fe > Mn > B > Cu > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cd ≈ Cr. In coffee brews, the contents of elements have a similar decreasing trend, although variations in leaching percentages were observed. The health risk was assessed considering the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in coffee brews, and no health risks were indicated by the obtained scores. The contribution of coffee brews to the recommended dietary daily intake of essential elements is low. However, it can be significant considering that this beverage is consumed on a daily basis.

Effect of Cassava Bioethanol By-Products and Crude Palm Oil Feeding on Fatty Acid Composition of Beef Meat and Fat in Crossbred Thai Indigenous Heifers

The quality and nutritional value of meat are significantly attributed to the composition of fatty acids (FAs). This investigation used gas chromatography to assess FAs in longissimus et lumborum (LL), semimembranosus (SM), and subcutaneous fat (SC) tissues of 18 heifers feeding low (15%, LCEP) or high (30%, HCEP) cassava bioethanol by-products (CEP) and 0 (CPO-0), 2 (CPO-2), or 4% (CPO-4) crude palm oil (CPO). The experimental diet was provided at 1.75% of body weight, along with free access to rice straw and water for 150 days. The results showed that the highest content of saturated (SFAs, 50.14, 42.76, and 68.76%, mainly C16:0), monounsaturated (MUFAs, 44.89, 49.14, and 30.41%, mainly C18:1n9c), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs, 4.96, 8.10, and 0.84%, mainly C18:2n6c and C18:2n6t) were observed in LL, SM, and fat tissues. CPO supplementation significantly affected the FAs in LL and SM meat, with CPO-2 and CPO-4 diets leading to decreased SFAs and increased MUFAs and PUFAs compared to the CPO-0 diet. Multivariate analysis showed the most important FAs that highlight discrimination between different oil supplementation levels (CPO-0 vs. CPO-2, CPO-0 vs. CPO-4, CPO-2 vs. CPO-4) in LL (C18:2n6c, C20:3n3, C13:0), SM (C13:0, C18:0, C13:0), and SC fat (C18:2n6t, none, none) tissues. This data generates key insights into FA profiles resulting from different levels of oil supplements in cattle diets, which could influence future research on precision nutrition in beef production.

Residual Feed Intake in Hereford Steers: Is It Associated with Carcass and Meat Quality Characteristics?

Carcass and meat quality traits were evaluated on 136 Hereford steers categorized according to their residual feed intake (RFI): high RFI (HRFI), medium RFI (MRFI), and low RFI (LRFI). Steers from the 3 groups of RFI did not differ (P > 0.05) on final live weight, hot carcass weight, carcass yield, marbling scores, ribeye area, and subcutaneous fat thickness. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the weights of tenderloin, strip loin, bottom round, knuckle, and tri-tip among RFI groups; however, steers from LRFI and MRFI had heavier (P < 0.05) top sirloins than HRFI animals and inside rounds from more efficient animals (LRFI) were heavier (P < 0.05) than HRFI steers. Steers from HRFI showed a greater (P < 0.05) proportion of intramuscular fat (IMF) than LRFI animals. Longissimus muscles from HRFI steers presented greater (P < 0.05) concentrations of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than those from MRFI and LRFI animals. The PUFA/SFA ratio of IMF did not differ (P > 0.05) between LRFI and HRFI steers and neither between LRFI and MRFI. In addition, the omega 6:omega 3 fatty acids ratio did not differ (P > 0.05) among the 3 RFI groups. Consumer's panel acceptability scores for tenderness, flavor, and overall liking were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among meat samples from LRFI, MRFI, and HRFI steers. Our findings indicated that RFI would not be associated with carcass traits and meat quality of Hereford steers, except for the IMF content and fatty acids concentrations. Therefore, end-product quality would be only marginally affected when RFI characteristic is included in a Hereford breeding program.

Phycoremediation of rice bran oil processing wastewater and biodiesel production using green microalgae, Scenedesmus obliquus: a green approach to environmental protection and remediation.

The current study investigated the enhancement of biomass in S. obliquus, using rice bran oil processing (RBOP) wastewater in different RBOP wastewater concentrations, while also aiming to produce biofuel and treat the wastewater simultaneously. The strain was grown in Blue Green-11 (BG11) media as well as RBOP wastewater at different wastewater concentrations with distilled water at 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% under controlled experimental settings. The study findings demonstrated a notable enhancement in the characteristics of RBOP wastewater during a 16-day growth period. The 75% RBOP wastewater concentration demonstrated superior efficacy as a growth medium for producing biomass as well as lipids, among other wastewater concentrations. Accordingly, physicochemical parameters and heavy metal percent of the RBOP wastewater were assessed. The collected biomass was employed in the production of biodiesel, and the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were measured, along with an assessment of its characteristics. Physicochemical analysis indicated that S. obliquus was able to effectively decrease levels of nitrate, phosphate, sulfur, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in RBOP wastewater. The heavy metal reduction percentages for iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and arsenic (As) were 69.43%, 72.94%, 72.99%, 90.49%, and 91.5%, respectively, following treatment with S. obliquus. FTIR indicated the existence of various functional groups (including alcohol, carboxylic acid) on the surface of the microalgal biomass. The FAME profile of S. obliquus exhibited a moderate level of saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content. S. obliquus demonstrated significant phycoremediation capabilities and potential for lipid production. This study has indicated that S. obliquus is a potential candidate for the treatment of wastewater.

Differential murine responses to Schistosoma mansoni eggs in the liver and small intestine lead to downmodulation of hepatic but not intestinal periovular granulomas.

To control schistosomiasis mansoni, it is important to attempt preventing the worms' egg-induced pathology in the liver and limiting pathogen transmission following egg exit from the intestines to the exterior. Therefore, the present study aimed to clarify the reasons behind the decades-long riddle of periovular granulomas downmodulation in the liver, but not the small intestine, with the progression of murine schistosomiasis mansoni. Outbred female CD-1 mice were percutaneously exposed to 15 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. The liver and small intestine were collected from mice harboring a minimum of a worm couple at 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks post-infection, assessed for egg counts/g and histopathological changes, and used to prepare Triton X-100 extracts. Content of cytokines, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, triglycerides, cholesterol, reactive oxygen species, and uric acid per mg tissue extract proteins were evaluated using capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, gas chromatography-flame ionization detector, and standard commercially available reagents, respectively. Examination of hematoxylin-eosin-stained tissue sections confirmed the decrease in size and changes in cellular composition of periovular granulomas in the liver but not the small intestine, associated with wide differences in released cytokines types and amounts, and content of the bioactive lipids, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids, reactive oxygen species, and uric acid. The results together disclosed that the downmodulation of hepatic, but not the small intestine, circumoval granulomas with the progression of murine S. mansoni naturally results from site- and tissue- specific immunological and biochemical responses to the egg-derived antigens and molecules and suggested that the intestines appear to harbor immune-privileged sites.

Regulatory mechanism of Elovl6 in lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and immune function in Scylla paramamosain revealed by Ap-1

In mammals, elongation of very long-chain fatty acids protein 6 (ELOVL6) play a role in both the elongation of fatty acids and the development of associated inflammation. However, the function and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of Elovl6 in invertebrates are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the function of Elovl6 and its transcriptional regulatory mechanism in Scylla paramamosain. RNA interference experiments showed that elovl6 knockdown significantly affected the synthesis and catabolism of hepatopancreatic lipids, leading to an increase in triglyceride levels and saturated fatty acid content, and a decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acid content. Notably, antioxidant capacity and immune function were also impaired, with decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes and immune-related genes. To investigate the transcription regulation of elovl6, a 2212-bp promoter fragment upstream of elovl6 was cloned and characterized. Analysis of the luciferase reporter showed that Ap-1 regulates elovl6 transcription via the −353 to −343 binding site. In vivo injection of the Ap-1 inhibitor T-5224 verified its inhibitory effect on elovl6 expression, with results similar to those of elovl6 knockdown, indicating that Ap-1 regulates lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and immune function via Elovl6.

Evaluating rice lipid content, yield, and quality in response to nitrogen application rate and planting density.

To investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) application rate and planting density (D) on the contents of lipid and free fatty acid, fatty acid composition, yield and quality of rice grain, a field experiment was conducted using Koshihikari (japonica) as experimental material from 2021 to 2022 with three N levels (90, 150 and 210 kg ha-1, denoted as N1, N2 and N3, respectively) and three transplanting densities (19.0 × 104, 26.7 × 104 and 40.0 × 104 plants ha-1, denoted as D1, D2 and D3, respectively). The results showed that N application rate and planting density had highly significant impacts only on the contents of free fatty acid and saturated fatty acid, respectively. Increased N and planting density enhanced the contents of lipid (29.41 mg g-1) and free fatty acid (21.47%). The highest values were obtained under N3D3 increasing by 7.02% and 3.23 percentage points, respectively, compared to other treatments. No significant differences in lipid content were found among treatments, whereas free fatty acid exhibited significant differences. The unsaturated fatty acid content increased with increasing N but first decreased and then increased with increasing planting density, while saturated fatty acid content showed the opposite trend. Appropriate N level and planting density improved the relative chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate of rice flag leaves, as well as increased grain yield, effective panicle number and spikelete number per panicle, but decreased the seed setting rate. Under N2D2, the relative chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate remained relatively high throughout the grain filling stage, resulting in the highest grain yield, with increases of 43.87-47.03% compared to other treatments. Amoderate N level improved the milling quality of rice, while increased planting density reduced it. However, both increased N and planting density reduced the appearance quality and cooking and eating quality of rice. Overall, the effects of increasing N application rate and planting density on enhancing rice lipid and free fatty acid contents were limited. A combination of 150 kg ha-1 N application rate and 26.7 × 104 plants ha-1 was recommended for achieving relatively higher yield, lipid content and better grain quality.

Common soluble carbohydrates affect the growth, survival, and fatty acid profile of black soldier fly larvae Hermetia illucens (Stratiomyidae)

The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L. 1758), is an omnivorous saprophagous insect with a high potential for valorizing organic by-products rich in carbohydrates. Among carbohydrates, H. illucens relies on soluble sugars for the growth and storage lipid synthesis. This study aimed to assess the impact of common soluble sugars on the development, survival, and fatty acid composition of H. illucens. Monosaccharides and disaccharides were individually incorporated into a chicken feed diet. Cellulose was used as a control. Larvae fed glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose grew faster than control larvae. In contrast, lactose exhibited anti-nutritional effects on larvae, slowing down growth and reducing final individual weight. However, all soluble sugars produced larvae fatter than the control diet. Notably, the tested sugars shaped the fatty acid profile. Maltose and sucrose increased saturated fatty acid content compared to cellulose. Conversely, lactose increased the bioaccumulation of dietary unsaturated fatty acids. This study is the first to demonstrate the effect of soluble sugars on the fatty acid profile of H. illucens larvae. Our findings highlight that the tested carbohydrates have significant effects on black soldier fly fatty acid composition and can thus determine their final applications.

Fatty Acid Composition, Oxidative Status, and Content of Biogenic Elements in Raw Oats Modified Through Agricultural Practices.

The chemical composition of raw oat grain is responsible for the high dietary value and health-promoting properties of oat products. This article presents the results of a study investigating the biofortification of grain in two oat genotypes-hulless and hulled-through agronomic treatments: chemical plant protection against weeds and fungi and mineral nitrogen fertilization. The applied agronomic treatments induced different changes in the fatty acid profiles, content of tocopherols, macronutrients, and micronutrients in the grain of hulled and hulless oats. Plant health contributed to higher concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and potassium in oat grain. In turn, nitrogen fertilization decreased the content of unsaturated fatty acids, potassium, and copper and increased the content of saturated fatty acids, calcium, and manganese in oat grain. At the same time, agronomic treatments reduced the tocopherol content of the grain, which implies that the nutritional value of oats increases in the absence of chemical plant protection agents. The correlations between the content of desirable chemical compounds and agronomic treatments were stronger in hulless oat grain, which may suggest that the agronomic modification of oat-based foods is more effective in this genotype. The content of exogenous alpha-linoleic acid C18:3 n-3 and alpha-tocopherol was higher in grain harvested from the control treatment (without chemical plant protection), whereas grain harvested from fully protected treatments accumulated more essential gamma-linolenic acid C18:3 n-6. The content of gamma-tocopherol and copper in oat grain was higher in the absence of nitrogen fertilization.

The harmful effects of drought stress on the camelina oil content and fatty acid composition can be alleviated by using potassium silicate

AbstractA factorial experiment with three replicates was designed to investigate the effects of potassium silicate (0, 1, 2 and 3 g L−1) on camelina under three irrigation regimes (full irrigation, restricted irrigation from silicle formation and restricted irrigation from the beginning of flowering). Compared with full irrigation, restricted irrigation from the beginning of the flowering and silicle formation stages caused reductions of 5% and 11%, respectively, in the oil content and of 48% and 68%, respectively, in the oil yield (oil content 33% and oil yield 736 kg ha−1). The drought stress regimes increased the saturated fatty acid (SFA) content, whereas the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, the PUFA/SFA (P/S) ratio and the monounsaturated fatty acid/SFA (M/S) ratio decreased. Under water‐limited conditions, 3 g L−1 potassium silicate significantly mitigated the negative effects of drought stress and increased the oil yield and content. Moreover, spraying 2 and 3 g L−1 potassium silicate increased the PUFA, P/S and M/S but decreased the SFA. Erucic acid, which was increased by the restricted irrigation treatments, decreased in response to potassium silicate application. Overall, the application of potassium silicate is a suitable measure for camelina cultivation under water‐limited conditions, as it mitigates the adverse effects of drought.

Low-oil corn distillers dried grains with solubles can be fed to pigs up to 16.5% without compromising growth and pork quality.

This study aimed to determine the maximum inclusion rate of low-oil corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in swine diets with a focus on growth performance and pork quality. A total of 160 crossbred pigs with an initial body weight of 25.5 kg (standard deviation = 2.5) were randomly assigned to one of 5 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with BW and sex as blocking factors to obtain 8 replicates and 4 pigs per pen. The low-oil corn DDGS contained 26.3% crude protein, 24.5% neutral detergent fiber, and 3.7% ether extract. Five experimental diets based on the corn, soybean meal, and wheat were formulated to contain 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% of the low-oil corn DDGS for each of 2 phases. During the overall period, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain-to-feed ratio linearly decreased (p<0.05) as the low-oil corn DDGS inclusion rate increased. A one-slope broken-line analysis showed that the maximum inclusion rate of low-oil corn DDGS in swine diets without compromising gain-to-feed ratio was 16.5% during the overall period. The carcass characteristics were not affected by the inclusion of low-oil corn DDGS up to 40%. The firmness of loin and belly linearly decreased (p<0.05) as the low-oil corn DDGS inclusion rate increased. As the inclusion rate of low-oil DDGS increased, the saturated fatty acid content in both loin and pork belly linearly decreased (p<0.001), whereas the unsaturated fatty acid content linearly increased (p<0.001). The iodine value of lard also showed a linear increase (p<0.001) with increasing the low-oil corn DDGS inclusion rate. The maximum inclusion rate of low-oil corn DDGS in growing-finishing swine diets without detrimental effects on growth performance and pork quality was 16.5%.

Mitigation of Oxidized Oil Effects on Production Performances and Meat Quality of Broilers by Dietary Supplementation of Allicin.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary oxidized oil and allicin (two different dietary sources) as natural antioxidants on the growth performance and meat quality of broilers. A total of 200 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into four dietary groups (50 birds/group). The experimental groups (OO-oxidized oil; OOA-oxidized oil and allicin; OOG-oxidized oil and garlic leaves) differed from the control one by the presence of oxidized oil in their dietary structure (peroxide value 9.07 (OO, OOA and OOG groups) vs. 1.70 (C group) meq active oxygen/kg). The diets given to the experimental groups differed from each other by the presence of allicin (100 mg/kg inclusion rate as extract (OOA) and 0.5% as garlic leaf powder (OOG)). At the end of the experiment, six animals/group were slaughtered, meat samples (breast and thigh) were collected, and nutritional value was established. The results showed that the allicin included in the experimental diet did not influence the proximate composition of breast meat (crude protein, fat, ash, and dry matter). The fatty acid profile was determined for each group of samples; a significant decrease in omega 3 FAs was noticed between the C group and the E groups (3.27% vs. 1.46%, 1.60%, and 1.56%) in breast meat samples, and a corresponding increase was noticed in saturated fatty acid (SFA) concentrations. Health indices with implications for atheroma and thrombus formation and cholesterol level were negatively affected by the presence of oxidized oil in the experimental diets, but the allicin extract supplement appeared to mitigate its influence. A positive influence of the dietary supplement was noticed on antioxidant capacity and polyphenol concentrations determined in breast and thigh samples under allicin supplement influence. The results of the current study revealed that the use of low oxidized oil in broilers diets did not affect productive performance. The nutritional quality of meat (breast and thigh) was negatively influenced by the presence of oxidized oil, but allicin supplements (extract or garlic leaves) improved lipid quality indices and antioxidant potential.

Development of novel microaerogel particles from pea protein and their application as ingredient for low-saturated fat cocoa spreads

Pea protein aqueous dispersions were subjected to thermal gelation of a 18% (w/w) at the isoelectric pH, followed by water-to-ethanol solvent exchange and supercritical-CO2 drying. The obtained particles presented a size in the range of 10-50 μm and showed internal surface area (142 m2/g), density (0.28 g/cm3) and porosity (79%) values typical of aerogels. Their SEM microstructure revealed a peculiar hierarchical structure of aggregated dried microgels. The obtained particles were thus defined pea protein microaerogel particles. One g of microaerogel particles were able to structure 1.7 g of oil, turning it in a viscoelastic material. Based on this, the microaerogel particles were used in the preparation of cocoa spreads containing sunflower oil solely as lipid phase. The spreads containing up to 2% (w/w) microaerogel particles showed rheological moduli and spreadability behaviour comparable to those of commercial spreads, along with high physical stability (oil holding capacity >96%). Despite the similar physical properties, the saturated fatty acid content of the developed spreads was 57% lower than that of commercial spreads. Obtained results highlight the possibility to obtain microaerogel particles from plant proteins and demonstrate their applicability as oil structuring ingredients, suitable for the design of spreads with physical properties similar to those of market products but with a healthier lipidic profile.

FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF DIFFERENT COMMERCIALLY SOLD VEGETABLE OILS WITHIN SOUTHERN KADUNA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Most of the edible vegetable oils in southern Kaduna are locally processed and are available in a large commercial quantity with little known about their fatty acid (FA) content. The aim of this work was to investigate the fatty acid content of these oils and their potential impact on human health. Six commonly used edible vegetable oil samples sold in various Southern Kaduna markets were analyzed for different fatty acids content using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The result of the analysis showed differences in the contents of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated (PUFAs). Coconut oil and kernel oil showed high content of SFAs (86.21% and 78.76%) respectively, while olive oil and peanut oil displayed significant amounts of MUFAs (75.40% and 47.62%) respectively due to high content of oleic acid (C18:1). Soybean oil with 58.06% of linoleic acid (C18:2) showed the highest total PUFA content of 65.23%. The Health Risk Index (HRI) was evaluated to assessed the impact associated with the overall intake of fatty acids in vegetable oils. The HRI were 1.78 (peanut), 0.04 (kernel), 0.23 (palm), 0.2(coconut), 4.05(soybean) and olive (0.71). Thus, soybean oil, peanut oil and olive oil have the optimum PUFA:SFA ratio according to FAO/WHO recommendations. Hence, they are recommended for mass consumption. The health promotion index (HPI) was also evaluated to assessed the content of certain essential fatty acids in various oils which have specific health benefits. The results of HPI investigation showed that only Soybean oil contains the balanced ω-6: ω-3 fatty acid ratio of 8.1 than others.

Characterization of quality parameters and phytosterol content in oils and their formulated margarines

AbstractUnlike lipid stability and oxidation studies in commonly used edible oils and margarines, margarines formulated with unconventional oils are not well characterized. This study investigated the effect of heat treatment (HT) on the stability and content of phytosterol in njangsa seed oil (NSO), bush mango oil (BMO), soybean oil (SBO), coconut oil (CCO), and margarines formulated from their blends: BN (BMO and NSO), BS (BMO and SBO), CN (CCO and NSO), CS (CCO and SBO), and commercial margarines (CM1 and CM2). Both oils and margarines were heat‐treated at 130, 170, and 210°C for 10, 15, 20, and 120 min (only oils). Changes in free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide value (PV), para‐anisidine value (AnV), and fatty acid (FA) composition and phytosterol content were determined after 20 min (margarines) and 120 min (oils) of HT and compared to their control/pre‐HT/unheated (UH) counterparts. The FA composition did not change significantly with HT. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)‐rich oils such as NSO and SBO showed significantly higher increase in FFA content with HT compared with oils with higher saturated fatty acid content (BMO and CCO). Oils with higher proportions of linoleic acid, such as SBO (68.3%) and NSO (60.35%), had higher AnV at the end of the HT compared with oils with lower content, such as BMO (0.51%). Phytosterol content fluctuated with HT, and changes in content were generally more pronounced in β‐sitosterol than in stigmasterol and campesterol. Both principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least‐squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) were carried out to observe possible clusters. The results suggest that changes in quality and content of oils and margarines during heating are dependent on more than their fatty acid composition.

The Influence of Crossbreeding on the Composition of Protein and Fat Fractions in Milk: A Comparison Between Purebred Polish Holstein Friesian and Polish Holstein Friesian × Swedish Red Cows.

In this study, the differences in protein and fat bioactive components between the milk from purebred Polish Holstein Friesian (PHF) cows and PHF cows crossbred with Swedish Red (SRB) were investigated. The objective was to assess the impact of genetic variation on the nutritional quality of their milk. This study was conducted at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences' (WULS) experimental dairy farm in Warsaw, Poland, and involved 60 primiparous cows divided into two groups: 30 PHF×SRB crossbred cows and 30 purebred PHF cows. All cows were housed in a free-stall system with an average lactation yield exceeding 10,000 kg/lactation. The milk composition analyses included total protein, casein, whey protein, fatty acid profiles, and vitamin content. Milk from the PHF×SRB hybrids showed a significantly greater total protein content (3.53%) compared to that from the purebred PHF cows (3.28%). The casein content was higher in the hybrids' milk (2.90%) than the purebreds' milk (2.78%), while the whey protein levels were lower in the purebred milk (0.50%) than in the hybrid milk (0.63%). The hybrids exhibited higher concentrations of certain saturated fatty acids in their milk, while the purebreds' milk contained greater amounts of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins-E, D, and K. These results indicate that genetic selection through crossbreeding can enhance the nutritional quality of milk. The differences observed in protein, fatty-acid, and vitamin content underscore the role of the genotype in milk composition, suggesting that breeding strategies can optimize dairy products' health benefits.

Use of Lupinus albus as a Local Protein Source in the Production of High-Quality Iberian Pig Products.

The replacement of soybean meal with sweet white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) seeds was investigated in the diets of Iberian pigs during the growing and fattening phases, evaluating its effects on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality. Iberian pigs (n = 50) were divided into two dietary groups (n = 25 per group), receiving either a lupin-based concentrate or a soybean meal-based concentrate. The data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with a significance level of p < 0.05. The results showed that lupin substitution had no adverse effect on body weight, average daily gain, or carcass characteristics. No significant differences were observed in meat quality parameters such as pH, colour, and texture. However, significantly (p = 0.007) lower levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) content were found in the intramuscular fat of pre-finishing (primor) pigs fed lupin-based diets. In addition, these pigs had lower plasma triglyceride levels at the end of the growing phase. Overall, the results suggest that sweet white lupin is a viable alternative protein source in Iberian pig production, offering potential health benefits in line with consumer preferences for sustainably produced, healthier meat products, without compromising production efficiency or product quality.

Influence of the Blends of Sheep's and Goat's Milk on the Functional Properties and Volatile Compounds of Lighvan Cheese During Ripening: A Comparative Study.

In this study, the influence of different ratios of sheep's to goat's milk (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) on the content of functional metabolites and volatiles in Lighvan cheese throughout ripening was investigated. The samples were ripened under brine for 90 days and assessed in terms of variations in chemical composition, proteolysis, angiotensin-converting enzyme, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, antioxidant power, total free amino acids, gamma amino butyric acid, free fatty acids, and volatile compounds. Results showed that by increasing the proportion of goat's milk, the samples exhibited higher antioxidant effect and inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme during ripening. After 90 days, an increase in α-glucosidase and a slight decrease in α-amylase inhibitory activities were observed in Lighvan cheese samples that were produced with 50%, 75% and 100% of goat's milk. In contrast, higher contents of sheep's milk led to a significant increase in the concentration of esters, terpenes and alcohols and a slight increase in gamma-aminobutyric acid. The highest concentration of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids was observed in the cheese prepared with 100% raw sheep's milk after 90 days of ripening. The results revealed the possibility of making a functional white-brined cheese by monitoring the type and ratio of the used milk and ripening time.

Metabolic profile of fatty acids, phenolic compounds, and methylxanthines of cocoa kernels (Theobroma cacao L.) from different cultivars produced in cabruca and full sun farming systems

The demand for high-quality cocoa beans has increased in line with the growing global demand for chocolate. The chemical composition of cocoa beans can vary according to their origin and growing conditions. In this context, this study evaluated the influence of the cultivar type (CCN51 and PS1319) and the cocoa management system (cabruca and full sun) on the chemical composition of unfermented cocoa kernels. The cultivation system influenced the fatty acid composition of cocoa kernels, with higher values of linoleic acid associated with the full sun system, although higher total lipid contents were obtained in the cabruca system. The cultivar influenced the content of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and the saturated/unsaturated ratio (S/U). Lower levels of total phenolic compounds, total anthocyanins and antioxidant properties were found in the full sun system, especially in the PS1319 cultivar. Higher levels of epicatechin and catechin were found in the cocoa kernel of the CCN51 cultivar. Theobromine and caffeine were not influenced by the treatments. Neither the PCA of total lipids and fatty acids, nor the PCA of antioxidant properties, phenolic compounds and methylxanthines indicated an isolated clustering between cultivar and cultivation system. The results showed that the factors under study influenced the chemical composition of the unfermented cocoa kernel. Furthermore, they indicated that the migration from traditional systems, such as cabruca, to full sun systems can reduce the total lipids and phenolic compounds content of the cocoa beans. When planning new plantations, the choice of genetic material should also be carefully considered to produce higher-quality cocoa butter and beans with a higher phenolic compound content.