Saturated Fatty Acid Content Research Articles

Effect of lipid type on betulin-stabilized water-in-oil Pickering emulsion: emulsion properties, in vitro digestion, and betulin bioaccessibility.

The Pickering emulsion delivery technique is widely acknowledged for its efficacy in serving as a carrier that can encapsulate functional components effectively. Previous studies have shown significant differences in the stability of Pickering emulsions composed of different oil phases and in the bioaccessibility of the encapsulated functional ingredients. This study therefore investigated the effects of different carrier oils in the betulin self-stabilized water-in-oil (W/O) Pickering emulsion on the stability of the emulsion and bioaccessibility of betulin. The results showed that the oil type was one of the main factors affecting the stability of the emulsion. Palm oil and coconut oil provided better storage stability and centrifugal stability due to the high saturated fatty acid content. The bioavailability of betulin correlated significantly with the composition and characteristics of fatty acids in carrier oils. Carrier oils rich in low-saturation long-chain fatty acids tended to release more free fatty acids (FFAs), thus forming larger and more mixed micelles with stronger swelling and dissolution ability, resulting in a relatively high bioaccessibility of betulin. In contrast, the bioaccessibility of betulin in the emulsion prepared by coconut oil (with high saturated fatty acid content) was relatively low (1.17%). The results of this study indicate that selecting an appropriate carrier oil is important for the design of self-stabilized W/O Pickering emulsions to improve the bioaccessibility of betulin and other lipophilic bioactivities effectively. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Obtaining Goats’ Dairy Products Enriched in Healthy Fatty Acids by Valuing Linseed or Hempseed as Dietary Ingredients

The study aimed to assess the effects of including linseeds or hempseeds in the diets of late lactation Murciano-Granadina dairy goats on the nutritional quality of the milk and cheese fat, expressed by the fatty acids profile and the healthy lipid indices. Thirty-six goats were randomly distributed in 3 groups of 12 animals each, according to a 3 × 3 Latin square design, and fed three different diets: group CON (control, with sunflower meal, 11.5% DM basis); group LIN, where sunflower meal was replaced by linseed; and group HMP, where sunflower meal was replaced by hempseeds. The replacement had no effects on the milk yields and the milk protein content as no significant differences were detected among groups. The significant increase of the fat content in the case of the LIN and HMP groups was accompanied by significant decreases in saturated fatty acids concentration and very significant increases in monounsaturated fatty acids. The content of n3 and n6-PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) increased, mainly due to a 4.1 times higher proportion of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; C 18:3n-3) in LIN diet milk and a 1.3 times higher proportion of linoleic acid (LA; C 18:2n6c) in HMP diet milk. The conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; isomer c9, t11) was 1.9 times higher for the LIN diet and 5.05 times higher for the HMP diet. Feeding either linseed or hempseeds contributed to the reduction of the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, increased the hypocholesterolemic: hypercholesterolemic ratio as well as the proportion of other desired fatty acids in the milk fat. The improved nutritional quality of milk, which has potentially far-reaching human health benefits, is maintained in cheese through the increase of the n3 and n6-PUFAs, especially for the LIN diet where the n6/n3 ratio decreased significantly, compared with the CON diet (3.62 vs. 6.88). The CLA concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.001) for the HMP cheese compared with the CON diet (1.89% vs. 0.78%). These effects highlight the opportunity of obtaining dairy products with improved nutritional quality using local feed resources.

Mitigation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in roasted beef patties by cold plasma treatment and products quality evaluation

The cold plasma (CP) technique was applied to alleviate the contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in this investigation. Two different CP treatments methods were implemented in the production of beef patties, to investigate their inhibition and degradation capacity on PAHs. With 5 different cooking oils and fats addition, the inhibition mechanism of in-package cold plasma (ICP) pretreatment was explored from the aspect of raw patties fatty acids composition variation. The results of principal component analysis showed that the first two principal components accounted for more than 80 % of the total variation in the original data, indicating that the content of saturated fatty acids was significantly positively correlated with the formation of PAHs. ICP pretreatment inhibited the formation of PAHs by changing the composition of fatty acids, which showed that the total amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased and the total amount of monounsaturated fatty acids increased. Sensory discrimination tests demonstrated there were discernable differences between 2 CP treated samples and the controls, utilization of the ICP pretreatment in meat products processing was expected to achieve satisfying eating quality. In conclusion, CP treatment degraded PAHs through stepwise ring-opening oxidation in 2 reported pathways, the toxicity of PAHs contaminated products was alleviated after CP treatment.

The effects of trophic mode and medium composition on the biochemical profile and antioxidant capacity of Tetraselmis chuii (CCAP 66/21B)

Microalgal cultivation influences the bioaccumulation of high-value compounds such as omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids and carotenoid pigments. Therefore, cultivation optimisation is essential to upregulate high-value compound yields. The present study investigated the effects of trophic mode (autotrophy, heterotrophy and mixotrophy) and media composition on the biochemical make-up, pigment signature, fatty acid profile, and antioxidant capacity of the marine chlorophyte, Tetraselmis chuii (CCAP 66/21 B). The 13 conditions significantly affected the biochemical profile of T. chuii (CCAP 66/21 B) with high variation in carbohydrates (78.5–151.7 mg glucose eq g−1dw), lipids (208.3–475.1 mg g−1dw) and soluble proteins (47.3–373.9 mg BSA eq g−1dw). Trophic mode influenced the yields of high-value nutraceutical carotenoids (lutein and β-carotene) with the highest returns observed in photoautotrophic conditions (e.g., 2.51 ± 0.11 mg β-car g−1dw and 1.96 ± 0.14 mg lut g−1dw for K medium). Organic supplementation also induced significant shifts in the proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs). Here, heterotrophy and mixotrophy significantly upregulated MUFA content (33.2 ± 4.0%) and SFA content (31.29 ± 0.9%), respectively. Moreover, mixotrophy significantly enhanced biomass yield (6.3-fold), soluble protein content (3.9-fold) and the antioxidant capacity (5.2-fold) of T. chuii (CCAP 66/21 B) compared to obligate photoautotrophy and heterotrophy. As such, trophic mode is a principal growth parameter that can modulate the content of T. chuii (CCAP 66/21 B) for potential downstream applications such as biofuels, pharmaceuticals, nutracurticals or aquaculture probiotics.

Xylose, glucose and acetate as feedstock for three microalgal species cultivated in heterotrophy

Microalgae are known as good producers of high-added value bioproducts useful in many applications such as pharmaceuticals, nutrition or biofuel production. In contrast to phototrophy, heterotrophy emerges as a promising strategy for algal biomass production due to high cell densities, controlled conditions and reduced space requirement. Hemicellulose is the second most abundant material in land plants. Its hydrolysis liberates xylose, glucose, acetate. Our study focuses on three microalgal species, Galdieria sulphuraria, Euglena gracilis, and Auxenochlorella protothecoides, cultivated under heterotrophy with the above-mentioned carbon sources, supplemented alone or in combination. Growth parameters and biomass analysis revealed distinctive characteristics. G. sulphuraria, despite a modest fatty acid content (5–15 % w/w), displayed potential for hemicellulose valorization, demonstrating high biomass yield using xylose as a sole carbon source (approx. 0.5 gDW gxylose−1) and high saturated fatty acid (SFA) content (45–63 %). In our cultivation conditions, E. gracilis only assimilated acetate with low fatty acid content (approx. 6 % w/w), but high SFA content (60–77 %) and high paramylon content (47 % w/w), convertible to wax-esters under anaerobiosis. A. protothecoides exhibited biomass yields of 0.42–0.54 gDW gsubstrate−1 depending on the carbon substrate supplied but maintained constant fatty acid content (16–18 % w/w) in the presence of all substrates except xylose. Surprisingly, despite an inability to grow with xylose alone, sugar depletion analysis indicated decreasing xylose concentration when other carbon sources were present in the cultivation medium for this alga. This comparative study discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each strain, providing insights into their potential when grown on hemicellulose carbon sources.

Postmortem Fatty Acid Abnormalities in the Cerebellum of Patients with Essential Tremor.

Fatty acids play many critical roles in brain function but have not been investigated in essential tremor (ET), a frequent movement disorder suspected to involve cerebellar dysfunction. Here, we report a postmortem comparative analysis of fatty acid profiles by gas chromatography in the cerebellar cortex from ET patients (n = 15), Parkinson's disease (PD) patients (n = 15) and Controls (n = 17). Phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (PI)/ phosphatidylserine (PS) were separated by thin-layer chromatography and analyzed separately. First, the total amounts of fatty acids retrieved from the cerebellar cortex were lower in ET patients compared with PD patients, including monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The diagnosis of ET was associated with lower cerebellar levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and PUFA (DHA and ARA) in the PE fraction specifically, but with a higher relative content of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA; 20:3 ω-6) in the PC fraction. In contrast, a diagnosis of PD was associated with higher absolute concentrations of SFA, MUFA and ω-6 PUFA in the PI + PS fractions. However, relative PI + PS contents of ω-6 PUFA were lower in both PD and ET patients. Finally, linear regression analyses showed that the ω-3:ω-6 PUFA ratio was positively associated with age of death, but inversely associated with insoluble α-synuclein. Although it remains unclear how these FA changes in the cerebellum are implicated in ET or PD pathophysiology, they may be related to an ongoing neurodegenerative process or to dietary intake differences. The present findings provide a window of opportunity for lipid-based therapeutic nutritional intervention.

Supplementation with mulberry leaves improves growth performance and meat quality of Xiangdong black goats.

Mulberry (Morus alba) leaf (ML) is a high-quality feed source for ruminants, while it is unclear whether it can enhance the growth performance and meat quality of Xiangdong black goats. In this study, we investigated the effects of ML supplementation (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) on the growth performance, serum variables, and the profiles of amino acids and fatty acids in the muscle of Xiangdong black goats. Results showed that the final body weight, initial and final dry matter intake, and average daily gain increased linearly and quadratically with the increasing ML content (P < 0.05). The serum concentrations of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) increased linearly, while immunoglobulin G (IgG) increased quadratically with the increasing ML content (P < 0.05). Conversely, the saturated fatty acids (SFA) content in meat decreased linearly with the increasing ML content (P < 0.05). Compared to goats without ML supplementation, goats fed with 15% ML showed significant increases in serum concentrations of T-AOC, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and IgG (P < 0.05). Furthermore, goats fed with 20% ML displayed significant decreases in SFA (C18:0) content, compared to goats without ML supplementation (P < 0.05). These results suggest that ML supplementation promotes the growth performance of goats. A diet containing 15% ML showed better effects in promoting antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities, while a diet with 20% ML was more effective in enhancing meat flavor in Xiangdong black goats.

Effect of fatty acid composition on the volatile compounds of pasteurized milk during low-temperature storage

The change in milk fat during storage greatly influences its flavor. This study investigates the effect of fatty acid composition on milk flavor by analyzing volatile compounds in pasteurized whole milk (PWM) and pasteurized skim milk (PSM) during storage at 4 °C. 33 types of volatile compounds were detected and the content of ketones was highest, followed by esters and aldehydes. Based on variable importance in projection and relative odor activity value, 2-hexenal dimer, acetic acid ethyl ester dimer, acetic acid ethyl ester, and butanal were identified as the key differential volatile compounds. These compounds were found in higher concentrations in PWM than in PSM, indicating a close relationship with the changes in the fatty acid composition of milk fat. Among 11 fatty acids detected in PWM, the content of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) decreased by 0.69 % and 49.1 %, respectively, while the content of monounsaturated fatty acids increased by 46.8 % during 15 days storage, which suggests that the oxidation of SFA and PUFA contributed more to the volatile compound formation. Correlation analysis between fatty acid composition and volatile compounds found that fatty acid C18:2 and C16:0 were strongly associated for 2-hexenal, acetic acid ethyl ester, and butanal. These fatty acids were mainly derived from neutral lipids or phospholipids. These findings provide a new perspective for the formation pathway of milk flavor.

Comparative studies on characterizations and cytotoxicity of oil extracted from Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) G2 spore using Soxhlet extraction and microwave-assisted extraction

This study aimed to compare the characteristics, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity of Ganoderma lucidum G2 spore (GLS) oil extracted using two different extraction methods, including Soxhlet extraction (SLE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The SLE method yielded higher oil content than the MAE method. MAE-extracted oil showed higher lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) values but lower redness (a*) values. Both methods provided similar fatty acid compositions in GLS oils, including palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid as major components. Higher saturated fatty acid content was found in SLE-extracted oil, while MAE-extracted oil had increased levels of mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids. The oil obtained from SLE showed slightly higher di- and tri-glycerides than that obtained from MAE (P < 0.05). Furthermore, MAE-extracted oil had high oxidative stability as indicated by lower levels of conjugated diene (CD), peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and free fatty acids (FFA) as compared to SLE (P < 0.05). MAE-extracted oil had a higher total triterpenoid content than SLE-extracted oil (P < 0.05). Also, MAE-extracted oil showed lower DPPH radical scavenging activity (DPPH-RSA) than SLE-extracted oil (P < 0.05). FTIR spectra of both samples exhibited similar functional groups. Additionally, oils obtained from both processes (at 0.1–10 µg/mL) showed low toxicity on Caco-2 cells (P > 0.05). Therefore, GLS oil with high antioxidant activity and oxidative stability, especially oil extracted by MAE, could be a food supplement for health. Also, the MAE used was a potential implement for extracting oil from GLS.

Pulse echo method for characterizing the ultrasonic properties of argan oil compared to vegetable oils with similar fatty acid profiles

Abstract This study investigates the use of a non-destructive ultrasonic pulse-echo method to characterize argan oil and other vegetable oils with similar fatty acid profiles. Ultrasonic parameters such as velocity, acoustic attenuation and reflection coefficient were measured across different temperatures. These parameters were used to create predictive models of ultrasonic velocity using partial least squares regression. Results demonstrated significant correlations between ultrasonic properties, oil temperature and fatty acid content. Specifically, ultrasonic velocity was found to be directly proportional to the content of saturated fatty acids and inversely proportional to the content of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The reflection coefficient was also found to correlate with the fatty acid composition and temperature of the oils. Additionally, both ultrasonic velocity and acoustic attenuation decreased as the temperature increased from 25 °C to 50 °C. At 25 °C, the acoustic attenuation for argan oil was 22.37 Np/m, decreasing to 11.37 Np/m at 50 °C. These correlations allowed for the differentiation between food-grade argan oil, argan oil from seeds regurgitated by goats, sesame oil and peanut oil. The developed predictive models exhibited high coefficients of determination, with a value of 97.03 for argan oil, indicating strong agreement between measured and predicted ultrasonic velocities. This research highlights the potential of ultrasonic techniques for oil characterization and quality control.

Effect of Andean Lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) genotype and harvest altitude on the chemical composition and nutritional quality of flours

Andean Lupin (Lupinus mutabilis S.) or tarwi, a legume cultivated in the Andean region of South America, is considered a protein source. In this work, flours were prepared from different Andean Lupin genotypes, namely Cholo Fuerte (CHF), Común (CM), or Altagracia (ALT), grown at 2700 (1) or 3300 (2) meters above sea level. The effect of genotype and growth altitude on the chemical composition, color, phytochemical (alkaloids, free phenolics, fatty acids, and sterols) content, antioxidant activity, and microbiological quality of the flours was evaluated. CM-1 flour had higher protein, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and Δ5-avenasterol content. CHF-1 flour had higher crude fiber, Δ7-campesterol, clerosterol, and saturated fatty acid (SFA) content and higher antioxidant activity. ALT-2 flour had the highest total sterol content, particularly stigmasterol and β-sitosterol. None of the flours contained alkaloids or microorganisms, confirming that the preparation process was efficient. Andean Lupin cultivated at high and low altitude provides flour with high phytosterol and PUFA content, respectively. CM-1 flour has potential use in the food and nutraceutical industry due to its higher protein, essential fatty acid or PUFA, and total sterol content as well as low SFA content.

Partial replacement of soybean with alternative protein sources: Effects on meat quality, sensory attributes, and fatty acids and amino acids content of breast meat of a local chicken strain.

The environmental sustainability of soybean cultivation has been questioned as it has been linked to deforestation, eutrophication, pesticide use, and carbon dioxide footprint. Agri-industrial byproducts and black soldier fly (BSF) larvae meal are promising alternative protein sources that can be used to partly replace soybean in broiler diets. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of partial replacement of soybeans with agro-industrial by-products with or without the addition of BSF dried larvae meal on the meat quality, fatty acid and amino acid content, and sensory traits of breast meat of local chickens. A total of 252 one-day-old mixed-sex chicks from the Anadolu-T pure dam line were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 diets; a soybean-based Control diet, a diet in which soybean meal was partly replaced (SPR) with brewers' dried grain, sunflower seed meal, and wheat middlings and an SPR + BSF diet in which 5% of BSF dried larva meal was added to the SPR diet. All birds were slaughtered at a commercial slaughterhouse at 55 days and breast and drumstick muscles were sampled for meat quality analysis from 18 chickens/dietary treatments. No significant effects of diets were observed for the pH24 and lightness, redness, and yellowness of breast and leg meats. Thawing loss significantly decreased and cooking loss increased in the breast meat of chickens fed the SPR + BSF compared with those fed Control and SPR diets. Diets did not affect either texture profile or consumer sensory properties of breast meat. The chickens fed the SPR + BSF had the highest total saturated fatty acid and lower polyunsaturated fatty acid content in breast meat than those fed the Control and SPR diets. The essential and nonessential amino acid content of breast meat decreased by the SPR diet compared with the SPR + BSF diet. The chickens fed SPR + BSF diet had higher values of tasty, aromatic, and umami-related amino acids than those fed SPR and Control diets. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that agri-industrial byproducts with or without BSF larvae meal could be used to partially replace soybean meal in broiler diets without affecting technological meat quality traits. The addition of BSF larvae meal to the diet along with agri-industrial by-products improved the amino acid content of the breast meat of chickens but reduced polyunsaturated fatty acid levels.

Efficacy of Fe-BC in enhancing growth, photosynthesis, nutrition, and alleviating the toxicity of Cd and Cr in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.): A tool for managing the environment and attaining sustainable agriculture

Soil contamination with cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) pose serious threats to food safety and ecosystem stability. In current study, pristine biochar (BC) and iron-modified biochar (Fe-BC) were prepared, and the potential of BC and Fe-BC to reduce the bioavailability of Cd and Cr in soil, their uptake, toxicity in rapeseed (Brassica napus L) and the mechanisms involved were examined. In a pot experiment varying levels of BC and Fe-BC were applied to Cd and Cr-contaminated soil. The results indicated that soil supplementation with the highest level of Fe-BC (2 %) incremented the dry weights of roots, shoots, and seeds by 65 %, 33 %, and 149 %, respectively. Additionally, Fe-BC (2 %) treated rapeseed plants showed highest increase in photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 emissions, and chlorophyll contents by 43.2 %, 39.5 %, 33.5, 36.9 % and 28 %, respectively. Plants treated with Fe-BC (2 %) showed amplified superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. The results regarding saturated and unsaturated fatty acid contents of seeds showed that Fe-BC (2 %) treatment exhibited the greatest increase in linolenic acid, oleic acid, erucic acid, and linoleic acid contents, increasing these acids by 21 %, 6.5 %, 53 %, and 14.5 %, respectively. Moreover, Fe-BC (2 %) treated seeds depicted increased oil and protein contents by 14 % and 29 %, respectively. Soil application of Fe-BC (2 %) dramatically decreased Cd and Cr levels in the roots, shoots, and seeds by 21 %, 44 %, 88 %, 16 %, 38 %, and 57 %, respectively. The addition of Fe-BC significantly lowered the concentration of exchangeable (Exc) and bound to carbonate (B-C) fractions of Cd and Cr in the soil, while increasing that of iron-manganese (B-Fe-Mn) bounded and residual (Res) fractions. In conclusion, soil application of the Fe-BC amendment could be used as a sustainable approach to reduce the ecological and environmental risks associated with soils contaminated with Cd and Cr, and ensure safer crop production.

Murine hepatic proteome adaptation to high-fat diets with different contents of saturated fatty acids and linoleic acid : α-linolenic acid polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios

Abstract Introduction Some health disorders, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, are associated with a poor diet and low quality of the fat in it. The type and duration of the diet have an impact on the liver. This investigation uses the proteomic approach to identify changes in the mouse liver protein profile in adaptation to high-fat diets with different saturated fatty acid contents and linoleic acid (18:2n-6) to α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) fatty acid ratios. Material and Methods Four groups of male mice were fed different diets: one standard diet and three high-fat diets were investigated. After six months on these diets, the animals were sacrificed for liver dissection. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to separate the complex liver protein mixture, which enabled the separation of proteins against a wide, 3–10 range of pH and molecular weights of 15–250 kDa. Protein profiles were analysed in the PDQuest Advanced 8.0.1 program. Differentially expressed spots were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation–time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry and peptide mass fingerprinting. The levels of identified proteins were validated using Western blotting. Transcript levels were evaluated using a real-time quantitative PCR. Results The analysis of mouse liver protein profiles enabled the identification of 32 protein spots differing between nutritional groups. Conclusion A diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids modulated the levels of liver proteins involved in critical metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and cellular response to oxidative stress.

Physicochemical properties and flavor substances analyses of refined beef tallow with dry fractionation treatment

Dry fractionation represents a significant technique for separation of diverse fractions from beef tallow. The objective of this study was to undertake a systematic investigation of alterations in physicochemical properties, crystallization behavior, thermal properties, and flavor compounds that occur during the beef tallow dry fractionation process. The solid component yielded at 40, 30, and 15 °C were 44.88%, 33.72%, and 13.04% respectively, with an 8.36% liquid content at 15 °C, which was consistent with the characteristics of saturated fatty acids content. The β – β’ transformation in the dry fractionation process was clearly revealed by X-ray diffraction. Differential scanning calorimetry curves exhibited alterations in exothermic and endothermic peak, as well as enthalpy. Electronic nose identified short-chain compounds, aldehydes, ketones, and nitrogen-containing substances as flavor compounds. Volatile compounds were quantified using HS-SPME-GC–MS. Overall, dry fractionation produces beef tallow fractionated compounds with diverse physicochemical properties and aromatic-active substances, thereby expanding its potential utilization.

Evaluation of cottonseed oil as a substitute for fish oil in the commercial diet for juvenile swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus)

A six-week feeding trial was carried out to determine the feasibility of cottonseed oil (CSO) as a viable substitute for fish oil (FO) in the commercial diet of swimming crab. Ninety healthy swimming crabs (initial body weight 34.28 ± 0.59 g) were randomly assigned to 90 plastic baskets. Three isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets (450 g/kg protein and 120 g/kg lipid) were formulated replacing FO with CSO at 0%, 50% and 100% (CSO-0, CSO-50, and CSO-100), respectively. Each diet was randomly allocated to three replicates, each consisting of 10 crabs. Results indicated that crabs fed with CSO-100 diet had the lowest the percent weight gain (PWG), specific growth rate (SGR) and survival among all treatments (P < 0.05). Albumin (ALB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose (GLU), triglyceride (TAG), total cholesterol (T-CHO), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) contents and alanine amino transferase (ALT) activity in hemolymph were significantly affected by dietary substitution of FO with CSO (P < 0.05). The contents of total saturated fatty acids (SFA), total mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and total long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in the hepatopancreas and muscle were negatively correlated with the substitution level, whereas total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA) and linoleic acid (18:2n-6) contents increased significantly with increasing levels of dietary substitution of FO with CSO (P < 0.05). Dietary substitution of FO with CSO resulted in changes in the composition of volatile substances in muscle, with 16 volatile substances in muscle significantly affected (P < 0.05). The relative expression of genes related to lipid synthesis such as fatty acid synthase (fas), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (acc) and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 1 (gpat1) in the hepatopancreas were significantly up-regulated in the CSO-50 group compared to other treatment groups (P < 0.05). The relative expression of fatty acid anabolism-related genes fatty acyl desaturase 2 (fads2) and elongase 4 (elovl4) were significantly down-regulated with the increase of dietary substitution of FO with CSO (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 50% substitution with CSO had no negative effects on growth performance, promoted lipid synthesis and metabolism, facilitated lipid accumulation. However, complete substitution of FO with CSO inhibited fatty acid synthesis and metabolism, resulting in a lower tissue LC-PUFA content and an altered composition of muscle volatiles.

Metformin alleviates cryoinjuries in porcine oocytes by reducing membrane fluidity through the suppression of mitochondrial activity

Plasma membrane damage in vitrified oocytes is closely linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the mechanism underlying mitochondria-regulated membrane stability is not elucidated. A growing body of evidence indicates that mitochondrial activity plays a pivotal role in cell adaptation. Since mitochondria work at a higher temperature than the constant external temperature of the cell, we hypothesize that suppressing mitochondrial activity would protect oocytes from extreme stimuli during vitrification. Here we show that metformin suppresses mitochondrial activity by reducing mitochondrial temperature. In addition, metformin affects the developmental potential of oocytes and improves the survival rate after vitrification. Transmission electron microscopy results show that mitochondrial abnormalities are markedly reduced in vitrified oocytes pretreated with metformin. Moreover, we find that metformin transiently inhibits mitochondrial activity. Interestingly, metformin pretreatment decreases cell membrane fluidity after vitrification. Furthermore, transcriptome results demonstrate that metformin pretreatment modulates the expression levels of genes involved in fatty acid elongation process, which is further verified by the increased long-chain saturated fatty acid contents in metformin-pretreated vitrified oocytes by lipidomic profile analysis. In summary, our study indicates that metformin alleviates cryoinjuries by reducing membrane fluidity via mitochondrial activity regulation.

Investigation into the Reduction of Palm Oil in Foods by Blended Vegetable Oils through Response Surface Methodology and Oxidative Stability Tests.

Recently, there has been a significant transition in the dietary preferences of consumers toward foods containing health-promoting compounds. In addition, as people's environmental awareness increases, they are increasingly looking for sustainable solutions. Palm oil, an oil used extensively by the food industry, does not fit these criteria. This study investigated the development of a complex oil blend consisting of commonly used vegetable oils such as corn, rapeseed, sunflower, and palm oil. The aim was to find the optimal blended oil and compare this combination with palm oil in terms of its oxidative stability, antioxidant capacity, and the composition of bioactive compounds (i.e., fatty acids, tocopherols, and carotenoids). Palm oil was found to have greater oxidative stability as a result of its increased concentration of saturated fatty acids. The optimal blended oil, which consisted of corn and rapeseed oil at a ratio of 4:3 w/w, inhibited the superior antioxidant activity, showing a ~33% increase in DPPH• inhibition activity. ATR-FTIR spectra further verified the existence of a significant quantity of saturated fatty acids in palm oil and unsaturated fatty acids in the blended oil. Finally, several correlation analyses revealed interesting connections between oil samples and investigated parameters. This work has the potential to establish a basis for the mass production of oil blends that possess high concentrations of antioxidant compounds and reduce the use of palm oil.

Effects of replacing fishmeal with Spirulina platensis powder on the Zig-zag eel (Mastacembelus armatus): Growth performance, flesh quality, digestibility, and gut microbial composition

Protein demand from aquaculture exacerbates environmental pressures. Zig-zag eel (Mastacembelus armatus, MA) is a new aquaculture species in southern China and has great potential for future promotion. In this study, we used Spirulina platensis powder (SPP) to replace 0–20 % of fishmeal in the feed, respectively. A 10-week aquaculture experiment was conducted on 600 MAs with five groups of F0 (0 %), F1 (5 %), F2 (10 %), F3 (15 %), and F4 (20 %) set up with equal nitrogen (approximately 50.00 % crude protein) and equal fat (about 5.50 % crude fat) feeds. The experimental results showed that replacing fishmeal with different proportions of SPP significantly reduced FCR (p < 0.05), increased WGR and SGR (p < 0.05), and reduced the feeding cost, with the best performance in F2. Polynomial analysis combining WGR and SGR showed that the optimum percentage of substitution was 10.93 % and 11.09 % in MA diets, respectively. The addition of SPP significantly reduced the levels of EPA and DHA content (p < 0.05), significantly increased the proportion of C14:0, C16:1, C20:5n3, and C22:6n3 (p < 0.05), and a high proportion of SPP addition significantly decreased saturated fatty acid content (p < 0.05). The length of intestinal villi and the secretion levels of Chymotrypsin and Pepsin were significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the secretion level of Lipase was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the experimental group. A low percentage of SPP increased microbial diversity in MA’s gut. Functional pathways related to metabolic functions were the most obvious broad groups with the most significant changes in relative abundance in the experimental group, and Plesiomonas and Aeromonas may be the key microorganisms involved in regulating the digestion and metabolism of SPP in the gut of MA.

The Influence of Nitrogen and Sulfur Fertilization on Oil Quality and Seed Meal in Different Genotypes of Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

Adequate nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) fertilization of oilseed rape crops is necessary to obtain good-quality oil and post-extraction rapeseed meal. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different doses of N fertilization (100, 160 and 220 kg ha−1) and S (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha−1) on the value of seeds of three winter oilseed rape genotypes. Two winter oilseed rape genotypes obtained by mutagenesis (cultivar Polka and breeding genotype PN440) were characterized by changed fatty acid profile. The cultivar Polka, type HO (high oleic), had a high content of oleic acid (C18:1, 78.0%) and the breeding genotype PN440, type HOLL (high-oleic and low-linolenic), had a high content of oleic acid (C18:1, 75.0%) and a low content of linolenic acid (C18:3, 3.0%). We also used the canola type of winter oilseed rape cultivar, Monolit. The analysed winter oilseed rape genotypes responded similarly to the N and S fertilization factors with regard to the content of crude fat and total protein in the seeds and the composition of fatty acids in the oil. N fertilization increased the content of glucosinolates (GLS-alkenyl, indole and total) in seeds, whereas S application decreased the content of saturated fatty acids (stearic acid-C18:0) in oil and increased the content of alkenyl and total glucosinolates (GLSs) in seeds. A significant interaction between N and S was observed for crude-fat and total-protein content. This study suggests that ensuring an adequate supply of both nitrogen and sulfur in the soil is essential for optimizing meal and oil quality in different types of winter oilseed rape cultivars. Proper management of these nutrients can lead to improved oil content and overall crop performance.