High Fatty Acid Research Articles

Combinatorial effects of longan (Dimocarpus longan) peel extract and lecithin on stability of soybean oil and the oxidative stability of fried shrimp crackers during storage

Soybean oil contains relatively high polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) which present problems for storage, as they are not oxidatively stable. To solve this problem, the present study mixed a naturally hydrophilic antioxidant (longan peel extract, LP) with an amphiphilic compound (lecithin) to create a water-oil based interface with antioxidant properties and analyzed the effect on lipid oxidation. Pretreatments with LP, lecithin, and a combined mixture of LP and lecithin improved oxidative stability in refined soybean oil heated at 70 and 180 °C, by decreasing the resulting peroxide value (POV), conjugated dienes (CD) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Pretreatment with a combination of both LP and lecithin exhibited a synergistic effect in lowering TBARS and maintaining α-tocopherol, which is an endogenous antioxidant in soybean oil. The pretreatment helped to maintain PUFAs, which led to the prevention of POV, CD and TBARS formation in the oil. In deep-frying experiment, application of LP, lecithin, and a combined mixture of the two, improved the stability of the frying oil in addition to fried shrimp crackers that were cooked in the oil. Collectively, the results demonstrated the potential of LP, lecithin, and their combination in improving oxidative stability of vegetable oils under high-temperature conditions.

The changes in the physical and chemical quality of catfish oil (Pangasius sp.) with rice bran oil addition during room temperature storage

Catfish oil (CFO) is an oil product that can be obtained through catfish extraction by the dry rendering method and followed by a purification procedure. Fish oil has a high content of unsaturated fatty acid and is susceptible to oxidation and hydrolysis processes leading to a decrease in physical and chemical quality. Rice bran oil (RBO) which is rich in phenolic acid has a good antioxidant potential to inhibit the deterioration of fish oil during storage. This study aimed to determine the effect of the CFO and the RBO ratio on the physical and chemical quality of the CFO with the RBO addition during room temperature storage. This research used a completely randomized design with one factor. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance method and continued by Duncan’s Multiple Range Tests (p<0.05). The ratio of CFO:RBO was 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40. Data were taken at storage times of weeks 0, 2, 4 and 6. Based on the results obtained, the ratio of 60(CFO):40(RBO) at week 0 has the best physical and chemical quality. It can be concluded that the addition of RBO on CFO effectively inhibits the hydrolysis and oxidation damage up to 6 weeks of room temperature storage.

Biodiesel production with DES (deep eutectic solvent) catalyst using used cooking oil feedstock through two-stage transesterification process

Most of biodiesel in Indonesia is still produced by costly processed utilizing pricey catalysts and high grade fatty acid methyl esther (FAME). Low cost catalysts need to be invented in order to make biodiesel more affordable, while raw material also need to be obtained from low cost alternatives. such as broadly available waste cooking oil.This research used waste cooking oil as raw material in biodiesel transesterification process, utilizing DES (Deep Eutectic Solvent) K2CO3-gliserol, as alternative catalyst. The output was biodiesel with near SNI 7182:2015 criteria. Optimum biodiesel production was achieved in low 65 oC temperature while utilizing two step transesterification process using DES K2CO3-gliserol 5.5 % and 35 % methanol, whereas glycerol total was 0.32 % and methyl esther contain was 96.89 %.

Traditional and Domestic Cooking Dramatically Reduce Estrogenic Isoflavones in Soy Foods.

Soybean is a pulse which has considerable nutritional value due to its high protein, fibers and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents. It also contains phytoestrogenic compounds that definitely hinder its recommendation for general consumption. Contrary to ancient times, when soybeans were boiled, modern commercial soy foods can contain up to 150 mg/100g of estrogenic isoflavones. Interestingly, current estimations of isoflavone intake in the literature do not distinguish between the origins of soy food, i.e., whether it is homemade or commercial. As a result, the isoflavone exposure in Asian countries may well be overestimated. This study aims to demonstrate, based on step-by-step monitoring of isoflavones, that traditional and domestic treatments, leveraging isoflavones water-solubility, can indeed significantly reduce their content in soy foods. Indeed, when compared to commercial foods, the isoflavone content was found to be 20, 2.6, 4.5 and 9.8 times lower in "homemade" soy juice, tofu, tempeh and miso, respectively. Additionally, water soaking was found to reduce the isoflavones levels in soy-textured proteins by more than 70%. Hence, this simple process has the potential to help drastically reduce overall xenoestrogens exposure. This study could serve as a basis for establishing the isoflavones Reference Dose and issuing food safety guidelines.

Effect of roasting temperature on bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, phenolic profile, chemical properties, and oil extraction method on fatty acids composition of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds and oil

In this study, the effects of roasting chia seeds at different temperatures (90 and 120 °C) on total phenol, flavonoid, and carotenoid contents and antioxidant activities were examined. Additionally, the effects of different extraction methods on the phenolic components of chia seeds and the chemical properties and fatty acids of chia seed oils were investigated. Chia seed oil was extracted via Soxhlet without roasting as control, yielded 29.62%. The oils from seeds roasted at 90 °C and 120 °C had yields of 32.65% and 33.85%. The control oil had an acidity value of 4.70%. In comparison, the acidity values were 4.20% and 3.61% for the oils from seeds roasted at 90 °C and 120 °C. The total phenol result of the control sample was found to be 2.55 mg GAE/g, while the total phenol contents in Chia samples roasted at 90 °C and 120 °C are determined as 2.34 mgGAE/g and 2.14 mg GAE/g, respectively. Also, the flavonoid contents of the roasted chia samples (90 °C and 120 °C) were reported as 13.71 mgCE/g and 12.91 mgCE/g, respectively. It was observed that the application of roasting caused a decrease in quercetin and resveratrol values (p < 0.01). The highest antioxidant value (80.13%) was established in chia sample roasted at 90 °C. Quercetin, catechin, resveratrol, kaempferol and izorhamnetin were the main phenolic components of chia seeds. Other phenolic components such as syringic acid, p-cuoumeric acid, caffeic acid, and gallic acid were found at quite low levels. It was observed that of roasting application caused a decrease in quercetin and resveratrol values. The highest fatty acids in chia seeds were linoleic and linolenic acids. Linolenic and linoleic acid results of chia oils were recorded to be between 64.58 and 68.10% to 17.30 and 18.44%, respectively. The palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic (except sonication) acid contents of the chia oils obtained by Soxhlet and sonication systems from roasted seeds were found high compared to the control.

Prepartum behaviors as early indicators for postpartum energy associated biomarkers status in Holstein dairy cows.

Our main aim was to investigate the predictive value of prepartum behaviors such as total daily rumination (TDR), total daily activity (TDA) and dry matter intake (DMI) as early indicators to detect cows at risk for hyperketonemia (HYK), hypoglycemia (HYG) or high non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) status in the first (wk1) and second week (wk2) postpartum. In a case control study, 64 Holstein cows were enrolled 3 weeks before the expected time of calving and monitored until 15 days in milk (DIM). Postpartum blood samples were taken at D3 and D6 for wk1 and at D12 and D15 for wk2 to measure beta-hydroxybutyrate, NEFA and glucose concentration. Ear-mounted accelerometers were used to measure TDR and TDA. DMI and milk yield were obtained from farm records. Relationships between the average daily rate of change in prepartum TDR (ΔTDR), TDA (ΔTDA), and DMI (ΔDMI) with postpartum HYK, HYG and NEFA status in wk1 and wk2 post-partum were evaluated using linear regression models. Models were adjusted for potential confounding variables, and covariates retained in the final models were determined by backward selection. No evidence was found to support the premise that prepartum ΔTDR, ΔTDA or ΔDMI predicted postpartum HYK, HYG or NEFA status in wk1 or in wk2. Overall, prepartum ΔTDR, ΔTDA and ΔDMI were not effective predictors of HYK, HYG or NEFA status in the first 2 weeks postpartum.

Patterns of infant fecal metabolite concentrations and social behavioral development in toddlers.

Gut-derived metabolites, products of microbial and host co-metabolism, may inform mechanisms underlying children's neurodevelopment. We investigated whether infant fecal metabolites were related to toddler social behavior. Stool samples collected from 6-week-olds (n = 86) and 1-year-olds (n = 209) in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS) were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolomics. Autism-related behavior in 3-year-olds was assessed by caregivers using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2). To assess the association between metabolites and SRS-2 scores, we used a traditional single-metabolite approach, quantitative metabolite set enrichment (QEA), and self-organizing maps (SOMs). Using a single-metabolite approach and QEA, no individual fecal metabolite or metabolite set at either age was associated with SRS-2 scores. Using the SOM method, fecal metabolites of six-week-olds organized into four profiles, which were unrelated to SRS-2 scores. In 1-year-olds, one of twelve fecal metabolite profiles was associated with fewer autism-related behaviors, with SRS-2 scores 3.4 (95%CI: -7, 0.2) points lower than the referent group. This profile had higher concentrations of lactate and lower concentrations of short chain fatty acids than the reference. We uncovered metabolic profiles in infant stool associated with subsequent social behavior, highlighting one potential mechanism by which gut bacteria may influence neurobehavior. Differences in host and microbial metabolism may explain variability in neurobehavioral phenotypes, but prior studies do not have consistent results. We applied three statistical techniques to explore fecal metabolite differences related to social behavior, including self-organizing maps (SOMs), a novel machine learning algorithm. A 1-year-old fecal metabolite pattern characterized by high lactate and low short-chain fatty acid concentrations, identified using SOMs, was associated with social behavior less indicative of autism spectrum disorder. Our findings suggest that social behavior may be related to metabolite profiles and that future studies may uncover novel findings by applying the SOM algorithm.

Comparative Study of Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Local Mediterranean Donkey Breeds.

This study aimed to evaluate carcass and meat quality traits in Masri (n = 14) and North African (n = 14) male donkeys, raised in a semi-intensive breeding system, grazing on mountainous areas, with supplementation of 1 kg of barley per day per animal, slaughtered at 5 (±0.48) years old. Compared to Masri, the North African population exhibited higher (p < 0.05) final body weights (181.7 ± 2.1 and 212.5 ± 7.6 kg) and cold carcass weights (101.7 ± 1.3 and 116.2 ± 4.5 kg), but lower (p < 0.05) cold dressing percentages (56.0 ± 0.4 and 54.6 ± 0.4%). Meat quality analyses showed higher (p < 0.05) cooking loss values in Masri meat (43.9 ± 0.8 vs. 39.9 ± 1.2%). Among the meat color parameters, the hue value was higher (p < 0.05) in North African samples (0.42 ± 0.01 vs. 0.39 ± 0.1). Meat from North African donkeys had higher (p < 0.05) dry matter, fat, and protein contents. Meat amino acid analysis revealed abundant levels of lysine, leucine, and methionine, in both populations. Donkey meat from both populations presented a high polyunsaturated fatty acids content, resulting in polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids and omega 6/omega 3 ratios for all breeds close to the recommended values for human health. Atherogenic and thrombogenic indices were also suggested to have positive effects on consumers' artery health. The characteristics of donkey meat present intriguing nutritional aspects compared to ruminant meat, and its production should be encouraged in the rural development of inner-Mediterranean areas.

A laboratory study of the increasing competitiveness of Karenia mikimotoi under rising CO2 scenario

Ocean acidification (OA) driven by elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels is expected to disturb marine ecological processes, including the formation and control of harmful algal blooms (HABs). In this study, the effects of rising CO2 on the allelopathic effects of macroalgae Ulva pertusa to a toxic dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi were investigated. It was found that high level of CO2 (1000 ppmv) promoted the competitive growth of K. mikimotoi compared to the group of present ambient CO2 level (420ppmv), with the number of algal cell increased from 32.2 × 104 cells/mL to 36.75 × 104 cells/mL after 96 h mono-culture. Additionally, rising CO2 level weakened allelopathic effects of U. pertusa on K. mikimotoi, as demonstrated by the decreased inhibition rate (50.6 % under the original condition VS 34.3 % under the acidified condition after 96 h co-culture) and the decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (ascorbate, vitamin C). Indicators for cell apoptosis of K. mikimotoi including decreased caspase-3 and -9 protease activity were observed when the co-cultured systems were under rising CO2 exposure. Furthermore, high CO2 level disturbed fatty acid synthesis in U. pertusa and significantly decreased the contents of fatty acids with allelopathy, resulting in the allelopathy weakening of U. pertusa. Collectively, rising CO2 level promoted the growth of K. mikimotoi and weakened allelopathic effects of U. pertusa on K. mikimotoi, indicating the increased difficulties in controlling K. mikimotoi using macroalgae in the future.

Protective effects of flaxseed oil against dexamethasone induced skeletal muscle atrophy on rats

The production of omega-3 fatty acids in the lipids of muscle tissue was boosted by flaxseed oil (Linum usitatissimum), which is well-described in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. In skeletal muscle disorders, atrophy is a major problem which arises due to cachexia, sarcopenia and immobilization. Nevertheless, despite significant efforts, few FDA-approved medications are available in the market to treat skeletal muscle atrophy. The current project was conceptualized to investigate the protective effects of flaxseed oil against dexamethasone-induced muscular atrophy in adult Sprague Dawley Rats. Marketed preparation of dexamethasone was used to induce muscle atrophy and flaxseed oil was administered orally after disease induction of 7 days till 28 days. Body weight and behavioural studies were carried out to assess muscle mass and glucose. Due to its high antioxidant and fatty acid Omega-3 content, flaxseed oil promotes significant improvements in diseased animals. Rats administered with flaxseed oil demonstrated great weight gain and a decreased blood sugar level. After three weeks-blood sugar levels, muscle mass, momentary changes in rats and HDL levels were all significantly higher in the dexamethasone alone treated control group animals. Flaxseed oil protects against the biochemical and histopathological changes caused due to dexamethasone toxicity. The findings of this study reveals that, flaxseed oil protects against dexamethasone induced skeletal muscle atrophy and protective effect may be due to flaxseed oil's antioxidant properties. However, further research is essential to prove the protective effects of flaxseed oil in some more studies mainly revealing its actions at cellular and molecular level.

Artificial neural networks optimize the establishment of a Brazilian germplasm core collection of winter squash (Cucurbita moschata D.)

With widespread cultivation, Cucurbita moschata stands out for the carotenoid content of its fruits such as β and α-carotene, components with pronounced provitamin A function and antioxidant activity. C. moschata seed oil has a high monounsaturated fatty acid content and vitamin E, constituting a lipid source of high chemical–nutritional quality. The present study evaluates the agronomic and chemical–nutritional aspects of 91 accessions of C. moschata kept at the BGH-UFV and propose the establishment of a core collection based on multivariate approaches and on the implementation of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). ANNs was more efficient in identifying similarity patterns and in organizing the distance between the genotypes in the groups. The averages and variances of traits in the CC formed using a 15% sampling of accessions, were closer to those of the complete collection, particularly for accumulated degree days for flowering, the mass of seeds per fruit, and seed and oil productivity. Establishing the 15% CC, based on the broad characterization of this germplasm, will be crucial to optimize the evaluation and use of promising accessions from this collection in C. moschata breeding programs, especially for traits of high chemical–nutritional importance such as the carotenoid content and the fatty acid profile.

Evaluation of sustainable feeds for “caviar” production in the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816)

To improve the sustainability of aquaculture practices, a step towards the use of alternative nutrient sources (such as food processing discards) may secure the future of aquaculture sector, namely for emergent species, such as sea urchins. In this context, adult females of the commercial sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus were reared using four feeds based on lettuce discards (72%) and enriched (8%) with an animal-source ingredient (fish Sardina pilchardus, Feed-S; krill Euphausia superba, Feed-K; mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, Feed-M; anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus discards, Feed-AD). A fifth feed, used as control treatment, was composed of macroalgae (Laminaria sp. and Ulva sp., Feed-UL). Feed performance was evaluated employing a new productive protocol, the Raking method, which propose testing feed effects on sea urchin caviar (oocytes rather than gonads) production. Thus, ingestion rates and absorption efficiency were measured to evaluate feed palatability. Somatic growth and caviar production, expressed introducing the ovosomatic index (OI) instead of the traditional gonadosomantic index, were measured to assess feed productive performances. Caviar quality was assessed by nutritional content and color. Ingestion rate results showed that all feeds were palatable, while findings on absorption efficiency showed differences between the five proposed feeds, with Feed-M and Feed-AD presenting the worst results. Somatic growth was promoted regardless the provided feeds, while OI resulted higher with Feed-K and Feed-M than the other feeds. All produced caviar resulted suitable for human consumption with high protein and fatty acid content, but caviar produced by Feed-UL showed the poorest nutritional profile. Similarly, Feed-UL led to the production of caviar with the lowest quality color, while Feed-S showed the best orange color. Lettuce-based feeds were therefore effective for feeding P. lividus as they stimulated production of high quality caviar. Findings support the exploitation of food discards for the production of eco-friendly feeds for sea urchin aquaculture.

ROLE OF TEMPE FROM WEST SUMATRA AS A SOURCE OF VITAMIN B12 AND ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY

Tempe is the most popular traditional fermented food in Indonesia that has high nutritional values such as high protein content high fatty acid content, vitamin B12, excellent digestibility, and good antioxidant content sources. Tempe also has low in anti-nutrition factors such as phytic acid, oligosaccharides. The purpose of this study is to compare traditional Tempe produced from West Sumatra, Indonesia, which is comparing the yellow and black soybeans, with a focus on antioxidant capacity. Six samples of Tempe were collected in Padang and Padang Panjang, Indonesia. Microorganism isolated from tempe samples were identified and the antioxidant capacity was determined using different antioxidant capacity assays, then Vitamin B12 determination in mocrobiological assay was perfomed. The result is included the mean of antioxidant of black soybeans = 0.008333 with a standard deviation of 0.0006429 and the mean of antioxidant of yellow soybeans = 0.008767 with a standard deviation of 0.0027465. In conclusion, it can be seen that the F count for antioxidants is 8647 with a probability of 0.042. Because of the probability value is &lt; 0.05, then H0 is rejected or the two population variances are different (heterogeneous).

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in a Dish: Human Precision-Cut Liver Slices as a Platform for Drug Screening and Interventions.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing healthcare problem with limited therapeutic options. Progress in this field depends on the availability of reliable preclinical models. Human precision-cut liver slices (PCLSs) have been employed to replicate the initiation of MASLD, but a comprehensive investigation into MASLD progression is still missing. This study aimed to extend the current incubation time of human PCLSs to examine different stages in MASLD. Healthy human PCLSs were cultured for up to 96 h in a medium enriched with high sugar, high insulin, and high fatty acids to induce MASLD. PCLSs displayed hepatic steatosis, characterized by accumulated intracellular fat. The development of hepatic steatosis appeared to involve a time-dependent impact on lipid metabolism, with an initial increase in fatty acid uptake and storage, and a subsequent down-regulation of lipid oxidation and secretion. PCLSs also demonstrated liver inflammation, including increased pro-inflammatory gene expression and cytokine production. Additionally, liver fibrosis was also observed through the elevated production of pro-collagen 1a1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1). RNA sequencing showed that the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) signaling pathway and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling pathway were consistently activated, potentially contributing to the development of inflammation and fibrosis. In conclusion, the prolonged incubation of human PCLSs can establish a robust ex vivo model for MASLD, facilitating the identification and evaluation of potential therapeutic interventions.

Application of Phosphonium- and Choline Chloride Based Deep Eutectic Solvents as Catalyst for Emulsifier Production from Low Quality Oil Assisted by Microwave Irradiation

Monoglycerides (MAG) and Diglycerides (DAG) have wide applications in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Despite the economic competitiveness of producing this type of emulsifier from vegetable oils, the increasing demand for products with high nutritional value makes certain types of healthy oils such as rice bran oil (RBO) a potential raw material for high quality fats to serve this growing market. However, the high free fatty acids (FFA) and RBO content which is insoluble in acetone make it difficult to process and is categorized as a low-quality oil, causing RBO to be only used as biodiesel feedstock. Enzymatic catalytic route for glycerolysis of vegetable oil offers milder operating conditions and higher product selectivity (MAG) but it has high production costs and long processing time. In this study, biodegradable catalysts were used, namely deep eutectic solvents (DES) based on phosponium and choline chloride for glycerolysis of dewaxed/degummed RBO (DDRBO) assisted with microwave irradiation. Effects of different types of DES catalysts (phosphonium and choline chloride based DES) on DES-catalyzed glycerolysis of low quality oil will be evaluated using 5%wt of DES, 300 W(150°C) for about 15 minutes. Out of the four DESs used, DES [TBAB][PTSAM] and DES [ChCl][AcAd] both showed outstanding catalytic performance. Especially [ChCl][AcAd] as a reaction catalyst for DDRBO glycerolysis showed the best catalytic activity, and high selectivity for the formation of monoglycerides (MG). Meanwhile [TBAB][PTSAM] showed high selectivity (92.57%) for diglyceride (DG) formation.

Establishment of quality standards for syrup from viburnum fruit meal

An adjusted dosage form has been developed in the form of a syrup using low-waste technology — from the meal of the fruits of Viburnum viburnum. Viburnum fruit meal contains higher fatty acids, triterpenoids, phytosterols, and carotenoids. Medicines of plant origin have a number of undeniable advantages compared to synthetic ones, since their composition ensures safety and better tolerability due to the variety of biologically active substances (BAS) of plants, they can have a complex effect on the body, and they can be used for a long time. However, the main issue is that, despite their high bioavailability and cost-effectiveness, herbal medicines are complex to design and require the development of a number of technological solutions. Equally important are the issues of establishing quality standards — standardization of the developed dosage form. The syrup was prepared from simple sugar syrup with the addition of dry extract from viburnum fruit meal. Purpose of work. Development and establishment of quality standards for the developed dosage form — syrup from viburnum fruit meal. Materials and methods. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Let us use it to establish standards in quantitative terms for chlorogenic acid. Permanganatometry. This technique was used to determine the quantitative content of the amount of tannins in terms of gallic acid. Results. It was established that the content of chlorogenic acid in the developed syrup is 0.214 ± 0.006 %, the content of tannins in terms of gallic acid is 0.494 ± 0.014 %. Indicators acidity (pH) — 3–5, density — 1,360 to 1,420 g/cm3, microbiological purity — category 3 B. Conclusion. The result of the research was the establishment of the main indicators of syrup quality, namely the quantitative content of the main biologically active substances — chlorogenic acid and tannins in terms of gallic acid. In addition, such indicators as acidity (pH), density, and microbiological purity were determined.

Chemical Profiling and Industrial Viability of Neem Seed Oil: A Comprehensive Study for Sustainable Biodiesel Production

The study explores the chemical composition of neem seed oil, highlighting its potential for commercial biodiesel production and various industrial applications. The oil, with a liquid state, pale greenish-yellow color, and pleasant odor, yielded 32.1%, surpassing industrially extracted oils like soybean and cottonseed. Factors influencing its composition include seasonal variations, geographical origin, genetic disparities, growth stages, plant segments, and postharvest processing. Despite these, neem seeds meet the required oil content percentage for large-scale industrial biodiesel production. However, challenges like high free fatty acid content and elevated acid values necessitate acid esterification before alkaline transesterification, potentially increasing production costs. The study also highlights the importance of appropriate seed processing practices to optimize oil yield and quality.

Integrative polygenic analysis of the protective effects of fatty acid metabolism on disease as modified by obesity.

Dysregulation of fatty acid metabolites can play a crucial role in the progression of complex diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, digestive diseases, and metabolic diseases. Metabolites can have either protective or risk effects on a disease; however, the details of such associations remain contentious. In this study, we demonstrate an integrative PheWAS approach to establish high confidence, causally suggestive of metabolite-disease associations for three fatty acid metabolites, namely, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, and docosahexaenoic acid, for 1,254 disease endpoints. Metabolite-disease associations were established if there was a concordant direction of effect and significance for metabolite level and genetic risk score for the metabolite. There was enrichment for metabolite associations with diseases of the respiratory system for omega-3 fatty acids, diseases of the circulatory system and endocrine system for omega-6 fatty acids, and diseases of the digestive system for docosahexaenoic acid. Upon performing Mendelian randomization on a subset of the outcomes, we identified 3, 6, and 15 significant diseases associated with omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, and docosahexaenoic acid, respectively. We then demonstrate a class of prevalence-risk relationships indicative of (de)canalization of disease under high and low fatty acid metabolite levels. Finally, we show that the interaction between the metabolites and obesity demonstrates that the degree of protection afforded by fatty acid metabolites is strongly modulated by underlying metabolic health. This study evaluated the disease architectures of three polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which were validated by several PheWAS modes of support. Our results not only highlight specific diseases associated with each metabolite but also disease group enrichments. In addition, we demonstrate an integrative PheWAS methodology that can be applied to other components of the human metabolome or other traits of interest. The results of this study can be used as an atlas to cross-compare genetic with non-genetic disease associations for the three PUFAs investigated. The findings can be explored through our R shiny app at https://pufa.biosci.gatech.edu.

A Method for High Throughput Free Fatty Acids Determination in a Small Section of Bovine Liver Tissue Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction Combined with Supercritical Fluid Chromatography-Medium Vacuum Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

A novel ionization technique named medium vacuum chemical ionization (MVCI) mass spectrometry (MS), which is a chemical ionization using oxonium (H3O+) and hydroxide (OH-) formed from water, has excellent compatibility with the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)/supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). We have studied a method to determine free fatty acids (FFAs) in a small section of bovine liver tissue using SFE/SFC-MVCI MS analysis without further sample preparation. A series of FFA molecules interact with the C18 stationary phase, exhibiting broad chromatographic peaks when using a non-modified CO2 as the mobile phase. It can be optimized by adding a small content of methanol to the mobile phase as a modifier; however, it may dampen the ionization efficiency of MVCI since the proton affinity of methanol is slightly higher than water. We have carefully evaluated the modifier content on the ion detection and column efficiencies. The obtained result showed that an optimized performance was in the range of 1 to 2% methanol-modified CO2 mobile phase for both column efficiency and peak intensity. Higher methanol content than 2% degrades both peak intensity and column efficiency. Using optimized SFC conditions, a section of bovine liver tissue sliced for 14 µm thickness by 1 mm square, which is roughly estimated as about 3300 hepatocytes, was applied to determine 18 FFAs amounts for carbon chains of C12-C24. An amount of each tested FFA was estimated as in the range of 0.07 to 2.6 fmol per cell.

Evaluating the commercial potential of Cocos nucifera derived biochar catalyst in biodiesel synthesis from Kanuga oil: Optimization, kinetics, thermodynamics, and process cost analysis

In the current study, sulfonic acid functionalized steam-activated char catalyst was prepared from Cocos nucifera (coconut) husk (named as ACH-SO3H) at low temperatures for the pre-treatment of Kanuga oil to its methyl ester. This catalyst is attempted reportedly first time for Kanuga oil-derived biodiesel production. An ester yield of 99.51% was achieved over parametric states optimized by response surface methodology of catalyst loading 4.9 wt%, methanol concentration of wt%, for 83 min at 55.75 °C. Based on the proximate analysis, the feedstock Kanuga oil exhibited a high free fatty acid suggesting that the fuel production require the usage of an acid catalyst. Catalyst developed was examined using BET, SEM, EDAX, FTIR, and XRD. Fuel characterization of the produced methyl ester demonstrated that it has physico-chemical properties acceptable for biodiesel according to ASTM standards. The esterification reaction with ACH-SO3H exhibited kinetics that resembled pseudo-first-order behaviour, with an Ea of 68.83 kJ mol−1. Endothermic nature and non-spontaneity of the esterification reaction were confirmed through the thermodynamic study. Despite repeated use, the catalyst demonstrated outstanding stability, with the capacity to be reused thrice without notable decay in catalytic action. Catalyst production cost of $6.74/kg was estimated in the work.