N‐3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids of longissimus muscle in beef cattle

The objective of the experiment with cattle was to produce high quality beef under different feeding conditions and to increase the concentration of essential fatty acids in muscle. In total 10 German Simmental (GS) bulls and 9 German Holstein (GH) steers were kept either on pasture (grass feeding) or in stable (concentrate feeding). Despite biohydrogenation in the rumen, linolenic acid (C18:3n‐3) contained in grass was absorbed and deposited into the lipids of muscle. This led to a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher content of n‐3 fatty acids in the muscle lipids of grazing cattle. The relative amount of total n‐3 fatty acids increased from 1.4 g/100 g fatty acid methyl ester (%FAME) in the intensively fed Simmental bulls to 5.5 %FAME in grass fed cattle. The n‐6/n‐3 ratio of pasture grazing GS bulls was 1.3 in contrast to 13.7 of the animals kept in the byre. The total n‐3 fatty acid concentration in beef muscle increased from 24.6 mg (concentrate) to 108.6 mg/100 g wet weight (grazing). In GH steers the total n‐3 fatty acid concentration was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased up to 86.3 mg/100 g wet weight in pasture grazing steers compared to 28.8 mg/100 g wet weight in animals fed the concentrate. The relative content (%FAME) of CLAcis‐9, trans‐11 (0.6 vs 0.56 %FAME in GS; 0.55 vs 0.52 %FAME in GH) in muscle was not significantly increased by grazing on pasture in comparison to concentrate feeding neither in GS bulls nor in GH steers, respectively.     

Growth Performance,Carcass Characteristics,Fatty Acid Composition,and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Lamb Fed Diet with the Addition of Lingonberry Leaves and Oak Bark

The aim of the study is to determine the effect of natural additives supplemented to the lamb diet on lamb performance, fatty acid (FA) composition of edible parts of lambs, and biochemical plasma indices. The study is carried out on 18 male lambs, allocated to three groups in a randomized complete block design. Control animals (CON) are fed a basic diet, while the experimental lambs additionally receive lingonberry leaves (VVI) or oak bark (QUE) (10 g d^?1), as a different source of tannins. Supplementing lambs with the VVI diet decreases fat content in the longissimus dorsi muscle (MLD). The VVI diet decreases monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) concentration (including C18:1 cis‐9) in the MLD, increases the proportion of C16:0, C16:1, C17:1, and C22:6 n‐3 in the semitendinosus muscle, as well as increases the n‐6/n‐3 ratio and thrombogenic index in the liver. The addition of QUE to lamb diets decreases C17:1 concentration and increases the content of C18:1 trans‐11 in the MLD. Tannins‐enriched diets increase low density lipoprotein concentrations in the blood plasma. The VVI diet increases the activity of alkaline phosphatase, while QUE supplementation decreases gamma‐glutamyl transferase activity in blood plasma. Modifications of FA composition in lamb tissues may suggest an indirect effect of tannins on FA ruminal biohydrogenation. Practical Applications: The use of VVI and QUE in lamb nutrition as natural resources is of a great interest to scientists. The present study shows that primarily VVI addition to lamb diets affects the quality of meat, due to higher proportion of catechin than QUE. Decreased concentration of fat, as well as increased proportion of C22:6 n‐3 and desirable fatty acids (including MUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid, C18:0) after VVI supplementation increases health‐promoting properties of lamb meat and is related to humans. However, the presence of biologically active substances (tannins) in the examined additives makes it necessary to further research and discover their full potential in many areas.     

Effect of storage and grilling on fatty acids in muscle of pigs fed plant oils

The purpose of the study was to assess changes in the fatty acid composition of raw and grilled pig muscles after different storage periods. A total of 13 female and 12 castrated Pietrain×German Landrace pigs were fed a basal concentrate diet supplemented with 5% olive oil or 5% linseed oil during the growing‐finishing period. An entire cut of the pork loin with bone (15^th rib to 5^th lumbar vertebra) was stored at 5 °C for 48, 96 or 144 h. Simultaneous analyses of intramuscular fat and lipid composition were carried out on raw and grilled longissimus muscles following different storage intervals. Dietary inclusion of linolenic acid by linseed oil feeding effectively increased the long‐chain n‐3 fatty acids, whereas in the olive oil group the oleic acid in pork was higher. Mean total lipid ranged from 1.8 to 2.3% for raw and from 2.6 to 3.5% for grilled pork chops. The relative proportions of lauric acid, stearic acid and oleic acid significantly increased with storage time, while the percentages of linoleic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic acid and the sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially n‐6 fatty acids, were decreased. Compared with raw muscle, grilling affected the relative fatty acid profile only slightly. Related to the original weight, storage and grilling increased the total fatty acid contents and the sum of saturated, monounsaturated, n‐6 and n‐3 fatty acids of loin chops, as a result of water losses.     

Differential Response to an Algae Supplement High in DHA Mediated by Maternal Periconceptional Diet: Intergenerational Effects of n-6 Fatty Acids

Algae high in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may provide a source of long‐chain omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn‐3PUFA) for inclusion in the diet of lambs to improve the LCn‐3PUFA status of meat. The effect of background LCn‐3PUFA status on the metabolism of high DHA algae is, however, unknown. The aim of the current study was to determine whether the response to a high in DHA algae supplement fed to lambs for six weeks prior to slaughter was mediated by a maternal periconceptional diet. Forty Poll Dorset × Border Leicester × Merino weaner lambs were allocated to receive either a ration based on oat grain, lupin grain, and chopped lucerne (control) or the control ration with DHA‐Gold? algae included at 1.92 % DM (Algae) based on whether the dams of lambs had previously been fed a diet high in n‐3 or n‐6 around conception. LCn‐3PUFA concentration was determined in plasma and red blood cells (RBC) prior to and following feeding. The concentrations of EPA and DHA in the plasma and RBC of lambs receiving the control ration were significantly (p < 0.001) lower when lambs received the ration for 14 days compared with pre‐feeding concentrations. The concentrations of EPA and DHA were also significantly (p < 0.001) higher when lambs consumed the Algae ration compared with the control ration for 42 days. The increase in EPA and DHA was, however, significantly (p < 0.05) lower if lamb dams had previously been fed a diet high in n‐6 at conception. Assessing the previous nutrition and n‐3 status of lambs may allow producers to more accurately predict the likely response to supplements high in LCn‐3PUFA, particularly, DHA.     

Forms of n‐3 (ALA,C18:3n‐3 or DHA,C22:6n‐3) Fatty Acids Affect Carcass Yield,Blood Lipids,Muscle n‐3 Fatty Acids and Liver Gene Expression in Lambs

The effects of supplementing diets with n‐3 alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on plasma metabolites, carcass yield, muscle n‐3 fatty acids and liver messenger RNA (mRNA) in lambs were investigated. Lambs (n = 120) were stratified to 12 groups based on body weight (35 ± 3.1 kg), and within groups randomly allocated to four dietary treatments: basal diet (BAS), BAS with 10.7 % flaxseed supplement (Flax), BAS with 1.8 % algae supplement (DHA), BAS with Flax and DHA (FlaxDHA). Lambs were fed for 56 days. Blood samples were collected on day 0 and day 56, and plasma analysed for insulin and lipids. Lambs were slaughtered, and carcass traits measured. At 30 min and 24 h, liver and muscle samples, respectively, were collected for determination of mRNA (FADS1, FADS2, CPT1A, ACOX1) and fatty acid composition. Lambs fed Flax had higher plasma triacylglycerol, body weight, body fat and carcass yield compared with the BAS group (P < 0.001). DHA supplementation increased carcass yield and muscle DHA while lowering plasma insulin compared with the BAS diet (P < 0.01). Flax treatment increased (P < 0.001) muscle ALA concentration, while DHA treatment increased (P < 0.001) muscle DHA concentration. Liver mRNA FADS2 was higher and CPT1A lower in the DHA group (P < 0.05). The FlaxDHA diet had additive effects, including higher FADS1 and ACOX1 mRNA than for the Flax or DHA diet. In summary, supplementation with ALA or DHA modulated plasma metabolites, muscle DHA, body fat and liver gene expression differently.     

Fatty Acid Composition of Freshwater Wild Fish in Subalpine Lakes: A Comparative Study

In this study, the proximate and fatty acid compositions of the muscle tissue of 186 samples of fish belonging to fifteen species of freshwater fish harvested in subalpine lakes (bleak, shad, crucian carp, whitefish, common carp, pike, black bullhead, burbot, perch, Italian roach, roach, rudd, wels catfish, chub and tench) were investigated. Most of the fish demonstrated a lipid content in the fillet lower than 2.0 g 100 g^?1 wet weight (range 0.6–9.7). A strong relationship between feeding behavior and fatty acid composition of the muscle lipids was observed. Planktivorous fish showed the lowest amounts of n‐3 fatty acids (p < 0.05), but the highest monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) contents, in particular 18:1n‐9. Conversely, carnivorous fish showed the highest amounts of saturated fatty acids and n‐3 fatty acids (p < 0.05), but the lowest MUFA contents. Omnivorous fish showed substantial proportions of n‐3 fatty acids and the highest contents of n‐6 fatty acids. Principal component analysis showed a distinct separation between fish species according to their feeding habits and demonstrated that the most contributing trophic markers were 18:1n‐9, 18:3n‐3, 22:6n‐3 and 20:4n‐6. The quantitative amounts n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in muscle tissues varied depending on the fish species, the lipid content and the feeding habits. Some species were very lean, and therefore would be poor choices for human consumption to meet dietary n‐3 fatty acid requirements. Nevertheless, the more frequently consumed and appreciated fish, shad and whitefish, had EPA and DHA contents in the range 900–1,000 mg 100 g^?1 fresh fillet.     

Effect of pasture vs. concentrate diet on CLA isomer distribution in different tissue lipids of beef cattle

This study examined the effects of feeding pasture vs. concentrate on the distribution of CLA isomers in the lipids of longissimus and semitendinosus muscle, liver and heart muscle, and subcutaneous fat in beef bulls. Sixty-four German Holstein and German Simmental bulls were randomly allocated to either an indoor concentrate system or periods of pasture feeding followed by a finishing period on a concentrate containing linseed to enhance their beef content of n−3 PUFA and CLA. The concentrations of CLA isomers in the different tissues were determined by GC and silver ion HPLC. The diet affected the distribution of individual CLA isomers in the lipids of the different tissues. The concentration (mg/100 g fresh tissue) of the most prominent isomer, cis-9,trans-11 18∶2, was increased up to 1.5 times in liver and heart tissue of bulls fed on pasture as compared with concentrate. However, no diet effect was observed for cis-9,trans-11 18∶2 in the lipids of longissimus muscle and subcutaneous fat. In all tissues, the second-most abundant CLA isomer in concentratefed bulls was trans-7,cis-9 18∶2. In contrast, trans-11,cis-13 18∶2 was the second-most abundant CLA isomer in all investigated tissue lipids of pasture-fed bulls. The concentration of the trans-11,cis-13 18∶2 isomer was up to 15 times higher in tissues of pasture-fed bulls as compared with concentrate-fed animals. Furthermone, diet affected the concentrations of the CLA trans,trans 18∶2 isomers. Pasture feeding significantly increased the concentrations of some trans,trans 18∶2 isomers as compared with concentrate, predominantly trans-12,trans-14 18∶2 and trans-11,trans-13 18∶2. Overall, pasture feeding resulted in significantly increased concentrations of the sum of CLA isomers in the lipids of longissimus, muscle, subcutaneous fat, heart and liver muscle of German Holstein and German Simmental bulls, but not in semitendinosus muscle.     

Modification of the fat composition of the Iberian pig using Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis

The aim of this work was to study the influence of a diet with probiotic bacteria on the lipid composition of different tissues from Iberian pigs. Cholesterol and fatty acid profiles were measured in liver, subcutaneous fat, and Serratus ventralis muscle samples. Feeding Iberian pigs a mixture of probiotic microorganisms for 45 days prior to slaughter affected the tissue composition. The feeds of the control and probiotic groups were identical except for the added Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis (1.28 × 10⁹ cfu/kg feed) in the feed of the probiotic group. The diet with probiotics significantly affected the fatty acid profile of liver, subcutaneous fat and Serratus ventralis muscle samples, but no significant differences were found for the cholesterol content. The livers of the probiotic group contained lower levels of n‐6 fatty acids and higher levels of n‐3 fatty acids. The subcutaneous fat contained lower levels of n‐6 fatty acids. Serratus ventralis muscles from the probiotic group contained a significantly higher percentage of oleic acid than those of the control group. Practical applications: This study deals with the effect of the addition of probiotic bacteria to the diet of pigs on both the cholesterol and fatty acid content. B. subtilis and B. licheniformis can be used in pig feed (Regulation EC no. 2148/2004), but there are no studies about their effects on fresh meat or other tissues, particularly regarding the fat composition. Thus, it is interesting to study how feeding these microorganisms affects the different tissues. Including these microorganisms in the basic diet could serve as a strategy to modify the fat composition and to obtain healthier products from pigs.     

Fettzusammensetzung von Lammfleisch

Fat composition of lamb . The effect of different feeding systems (extensive on pasture and intensive penned) on fatty acid composition of lamb muscle in relation to final product quality was investigated in three feeding trials. Lambs feeding on grass the muscle fat contained more n-3 fatty acids in comparison to penned sheep. The relative quantities of C18:3; C20:5 and C22:6 were markedly higher in grass finished lambs.     

Comparison of fatty acid composition of domestic and imported margarines and frying fats in Bulgaria

A total of 82 dietary fats sold on the Bulgarian market in the period 1995—2000 were analyzed. The samples included 68 table margarines (50 of which were imported), 10 frying fats (6 imported) and 4 salad dressings (all imported). A validated analytical method, thin‐layer chromatography‐AgNO₃‐densitometry, was used. It enabled direct determination of all fatty acid groups, differing by degree of unsaturation and double bonds geometry. Low levels of trans fatty acids (TFA) down to 0.1% of the total for mono trans‐trienoic (Tcct) and mono trans‐dienoic (Dct), and down to 0.2% for trans‐monoenoic (Mt) were quantitated, with an error under 3% and a standard deviation of 0.1—1.5. The total content of TFA in table margarines varied from 0 to 26.9% with a mean value of 8.6 ± 7.2% for imported and 1.6 ± 3.4% for Bulgarian samples. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) content varied from 11.5 to 45.7%, with a mean value of 25.4 ± 5.7% for imported and 26.9 ± 5.2% for Bulgarian margarines. A general trend of lower levels of TFA and SFA in imported margarines was observed over the studied period. Additionally, the content of individual saturated fatty acids was determined by gasliquid chromatography in 37 of all studied samples.     

Fatty acid composition of meat from ruminants, with special emphasis on trans fatty acids

The fatty acid composition was determined in 39 samples of beef, 20 samples of veal, and 34 samples of lamb, representative of the supply of ruminant meat in Denmark. Five cuts of beef and veal and three cuts of lamb with increasing fat content were selected, and analysis of the fatty acid methyl esters was performed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) on a polar 50-m capillary column CP Sil 88 with flame-ionization detection. Lamb had the highest content of saturated fatty acids (52.8±1.8 g/100 g fatty acids), higher than beef and veal (45.3±3.1 and 45.4±0.8 g/100 g fatty acids, respectively). Cis monounsaturated fatty acids were 49.2±3.1, 44.9±1.8, and 37.7±1.7, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were 3.3±0.7, 5.8±2.0, and 5.0±0.1 g/100 g fatty acids in beef, veal, and lamb, respectively. Beef contained 2.1±0.8 g trans C_18:1 per 100 g fatty acids, about half that found in veal (4.0±1.2 g/100 g fatty acids) and lamb (4.5±0.6 g/100 g fatty acids). Trans C_16:1 was 0.24±0.01, 0.14±0.02, and 0.79±0.02 g/100 g fatty acids in beef, veal, and lamb, respectively. Only small variations in trans and other fatty acids could be demonstrated between cuts. The overlap between cis and trans C_18:1 by capillary GLC was verified by argentation-thin-layer chromatography followed by GLC, on three samples of veal and three samples of lamb. In veal 1.0 g, and in lamb 1.4 g trans C_18:1 per 100 g fatty acids were hidden under the cis C_18:1 peak. The mean intake of trans fatty acids from ruminant meat is estimated at 0.2 g/d.     

High-Fat Diet Alters Serum Fatty Acid Profiles in Obesity Prone Rats: Implications for In Vitro Studies

High‐fat diets (HFD) are commonly used in rodents to induce obesity, increase serum fatty acids and induce lipotoxicity in various organs. Invitro studies commonly utilize individual free fatty acids (FFA) to study lipid exposure in an effort to model what is occurring in vivo; however, these approaches are not physiological as tissues are exposed to multiple fatty acids in vivo. Here we characterize circulating lipids in obesity‐prone rats fed an HFD in both fasted and fed states with the goal of developing physiologically relevant fatty acid mixtures for subsequent in vitro studies. Rats were fed an HFD (60 % kcal fat) or a control diet (10 % kcal fat) for 3 weeks; liver tissue and both portal and systemic blood were collected. Fatty acid profiles and absolute concentrations of triglycerides (TAG) and FFA in the serum and TAG, diacylglycerol (DAG) and phospholipids in the liver were measured. Surprisingly, both systemic and portal serum TAG were ~40 % lower in HFD‐fed compared to controls. Overall, compared to the control diet, HFD feeding consistently induced an increase in the proportion of circulating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with a concomitant decline in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) in both serum TAG and FFA. The elevations of PUFA were mostly attributed to increases in n‐6 PUFA, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. In conclusion, fatty acid mixtures enriched with linoleic and arachidonic acid in addition to SFA and MUFA should be utilized for in vitro studies attempting to model lipid exposures that occur during in vivo HFD conditions.     

Combined Urea Complexation and Argentated Silica Gel Column Chromatography for Concentration and Separation of PUFAs from Tuna Oil: Based on Improved DPA Level

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) isomers (22:5n‐6 and 22:5n‐3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3) derived from tuna oil were concentrated by three stages of urea fractionation at various crystallization temperatures and different fatty acid/urea ratios. Thereafter, polyunsaturated fatty acids concentrate containing comparatively enriched DPA levels was purified by argentated silica gel column chromatography. A product containing 22.2 ± 0.6 % EPA, 4.6 ± 0.0 % DPAn‐6, 5.9 ± 0.1 % DPAn‐3 and 42.3 ± 1.2 % DHA was obtained at 1:1.6 fatty acid/urea ratio (w/w) by crystallization at ?8 °C for 16 h, ?20 °C for 8 h, and ?8 °C for 16 h. A DPA isomer concentrate containing 26.1 ± 0.5 % DPAn‐6 and 22.3 ± 0.4 % DPAn‐3 was achieved by argentated silica gel chromatography in the 6 % acetone/n‐hexane solvent fraction (v/v), and the recovery of both fatty acids was 66.1 ± 3.2 and 70.7 ± 2.2 %, respectively. Furthermore, 91.9 ± 2.5 % EPA and 99.5 ± 2.1 % DHA with recoveries of 47.8 ± 2.0 and 56.7 ± 3.3 %, respectively, were obtained in various fractions.     

Enhancing Lipid Oxidative Stability of Cooked‐Chilled Lamb Meat through Dietary Rosemary Diterpenes

A dietary rosemary extract (DRE) containing carnosic acid and carnosol at 1:1 (w/w) for enhancing the lipid oxidative stability in cooked‐chilled lamb meat, is evaluated. Three diets for fattening lambs are tested: i) a cereal‐based concentrate (C‐diet); ii) the C‐diet plus 600 mg vitamin E per kg feed (E‐diet); and iii) the C‐diet plus 600 mg rosemary diterpenes per kg feed (R‐diet). Griddled‐chilled lamb patties are kept at 4 °C and lighting for 2 days, simulating catering conditions. Diterpenes have a lower deposition rate than vitamin E in lamb muscle and are completely degraded during cooking. DRE is thus less effective than dietary vitamin E in enhancing the oxidative stability of the patties. After 2‐day storage, the R‐diet shows lower (p < 0.01) peroxide values and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances than the C‐diet, while, in contrast to the E‐diet, it does not inhibit (p > 0.05) the formation of cholesterol oxidation products. The R‐diet increases (p < 0.05) the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and decreases (p < 0.05) the n‐6/n‐3 ratio. These findings suggest antioxidant protection by dietary bioactive compounds beyond the direct radical scavenging activity that is able to stabilize lipids during the meat shelf‐life. Practical Applications: Cooked‐chilled meat lipids strongly oxidize in ready‐to‐eat dishes kept in retailing conditions, which may negatively affect their levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), cholesterol oxidation products (COP), and other lipid oxidation products. Dietary rosemary diterpenes can be used as a clean alternative to feed additives to enhance the oxidative stability of cooked‐chilled meat. Improved health and antioxidant status of the animal might be able to reduce oxidative spoilage during meat shelf‐life. Diterpenes provide lesser antioxidant protection than dietary vitamin E but may improve the PUFA content, with positive implications for the nutritional quality of lamb fat. The use of dietary antioxidants with different properties may contribute to improving the efficacy of animal feeds to improve meat quality.     

Improvement of Major Depression is Associated with Increased Erythrocyte DHA

The aim of this study was to determine if changes in omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status following tuna oil supplementation correlated with changes in scores of depression. A total of 95 volunteers receiving treatment for major depression were randomised to consume 8 × 1 g capsules per day of HiDHA (2 g DHA, 0.6 g EPA and 10 mg Vitamin E) or olive oil (placebo) for 16 weeks, whilst undergoing weekly counseling sessions by trained clinical psychologists using a standard empirically validated psychotherapy. Depression status was assessed using the 17 item Hamilton rating scale for depression and the Beck Depression Inventory by a psychodiagnostician who was blind to the treatment. Blood was taken at baseline and 16 weeks (n = 48) for measurement of erythrocyte fatty acids. With HiDHA supplementation, erythrocyte DHA content rose from 4.1 ± 0.2 to 7.9 ± 0.4 % (mean ± SEM, p < 0.001) of total fatty acids but did not change (4.0 ± 0.2 to 4.1 ± 0.2 %) in the olive oil group. The mean changes in scores of depression did not differ significantly between the two groups (?12.2 ± 2.1 for tuna oil and ?14.4 ± 2.3 for olive oil). However, analysis of covariance showed that in the fish oil group there was a significant correlation (r = ?0.51) between the change in erythrocyte DHA and the change in scores of depression (p < 0.05). Further study of the relationship between DHA and depression is warranted.     

Oxidation of intracellular and extracellular fatty acids in skeletal muscle

Fatty acids are a major fuel for many tissues, and abnormal utilization is implicated in diseases. However, tissue fatty acid oxidation has not been determined reliably in vivo. Furthermore, fatty acid oxidation has not been partitioned into intracellular and extracellular components. In this report, a one‐pool model is described that enables direct quantitation of fluxes of intracellular and plasma fatty acids to mitochondria in skeletal muscle using dual stable isotopes and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion‐trap tandem mass spectrometry technology. It is validated by the determination of palmitate oxidation by skeletal muscle in lean and obese rats and the regulation by insulin. Resting postabsorptive intramyocellular and plasma palmitate oxidation by the gastrocnemius muscle was determined to be 3.47 ± 0.8 and 2.06 ± 0.5 nmol/g/min in lean and 6.96 ± 1.8 and 1.34 ± 0.2 nmol/g/min in obese rats, respectively. In obese rats, hyperinsulinemia (1 nmol/L) suppressed intramyocellular (by 59 ± 5% to 2.88 ± 0.3 nmol/g/min; p <0.05) but not plasma (1.41 ± 0.14 nmol/g/min; p >0.05) palmitate oxidation. The fractional turnover rate of palmitoylcarnitine (0.34 ± 0.1/min vs. 0.83 ± 0.2/min; p <0.05) was also suppressed by insulin in obese rats. In obese and lean rats, 83 and 51%, respectively (p = 0.08), of plasma fatty acids traverse the triacylglycerol pool before being oxidized. The results demonstrated that the methodology is feasible and sensitive to metabolic alterations and thus can be used to study fatty acid utilization at tissue level in vivo in a compartmentalized manner for the first time.     

Vaccenic Acid and <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-9,<Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-11 CLA in the Rumen and Different Tissues of Pasture- and Concentrate-Fed Beef Cattle

The objective of present study was the comparison of trans-11 18:1 (VA) and cis-9,trans-11 CLA concentrations in the rumen and different tissues in beef cattle, and to examine the diet and breed effects on the compound concentration and deposition. Sixty-four German Holstein and German Simmental bulls were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments, based on concentrate or pasture. The concentration of cis-9,trans-11 CLA and VA in rumen, duodenal digesta and different tissues was determined by gas chromatography. The results showed that pasture relative to concentrate feeding significantly increased the concentration of VA in duodenal digesta, plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids. Pasture-based feeding resulted in a significant enrichment of cis-9,trans-11 CLA in plasma lipids and erythrocyte phospholipids, but not in rumen and duodenal digesta, compared to concentrate-fed diet. Diet did not affect the cis-9,trans-11 CLA concentrations (mg/100 g fresh tissue) in semitendinosus muscle and subcutaneous fat. There was a breed effect on the deposition of cis-9,trans-11 CLA in longissimus muscle with lower concentration in pasture-fed German Simmental bulls compared to concentrate-fed bulls. However, pasture feeding significantly increased both, the VA and cis-9,trans-11 CLA concentrations in liver and heart tissues. Both diet and breed effects on Δ⁹-desaturase index was observed in muscle and subcutaneous fat tissues. There was a linear relationship between the concentration of VA and cis-9,trans-11 CLA and the coefficients of determination (R ²) varied between 0.29 and 0.87 from rumen to the different tissues.     

Enzymatic epoxidation of soybean oil methyl esters in the presence of free fatty acids

Epoxides of soybean oil methyl esters (SMEs) are biodegradable, non‐toxic, and renewable epoxy plasticizers. The objective of the present work was to investigate the effects of free fatty acids on the enzymatic epoxidation of SMEs. The results showed that the epoxidation of SMEs depended on the type of the added free fatty acid. For saturated (≤C_18:0) and monounsaturated free fatty acids, the epoxy oxygen group content (EOC) of SMEs increased with increasing carbon chain length of free fatty acids; for branched‐chain unsaturated free fatty acids, the EOC of SMEs decreased in the presence of hydroxyl group (OH) and hydroperoxide (OOH) of free fatty acids; the EOC of SMEs decreased with increasing number of double bonds of free fatty acids. The maximum EOC and the initial epoxidization rate (V₀) linearly decreased with increasing peroxide value of SMEs. The highest EOC (6.87 ± 0.3%) of SMEs was obtained using behenic acid as reaction material, which was similar with that of stearic acid (EOC 6.75 ± 0.2%).     

Commercial Runner peanut cultivars in the USA: Fatty acid composition

Though peanuts are classified as a high‐fat food, they possess good proportions of fatty acids deemed as heart healthy. The fatty acid compositions of Runner peanuts were determined for commercially grown cultivars over two recent crop years. GC‐FID analyses revealed that the fatty acid levels for Runner peanuts were significantly (p <0.05) different among the normal, mid‐, and high‐oleic peanuts investigated. Oleic acid‐to‐linoleic acid (O/L) ratios were found to be 1.93 ± 0.30, 5.25 ± 1.12, and 16.9 ± 5.20 for normal, mid‐, and high‐oleic peanut lipids, respectively. Tamrun OL01 possessed a fatty acid profile characteristic of a mid‐oleic cultivar. From the sample set (n = 151), mean % weights for oleic acid and linoleic acid were 52.09 ± 2.84 and 27.38 ± 2.60 in normal, 69.33 ± 3.18 and 13.66 ± 2.35 in mid‐oleic, and 78.45 ± 2.05 and 5.11 ± 1.67 in high‐oleic peanuts, respectively. Cluster analysis segregated cultivars based on fatty acids into normal, mid‐, and high‐oleic groups. Factorial analysis revealed that cultivar effects were significant (p <0.01) for all fatty acids, except for lignoceric acid. Cultivar effects were also highly significant (p <0.001) for O/L, IV, unsaturated/saturated fatty acid (U/S) ratio, and % saturation. Significant crop year effects were shown for palmitic, oleic, arachidic, gondoic, and lignoceric acids, as well as U/S ratio and % saturation. Healthy unsaturated fats accounted for ?80% in all crop years and cultivars.     

Serum n-3 Tetracosapentaenoic Acid and Tetracosahexaenoic Acid Increase Following Higher Dietary α-Linolenic Acid but not Docosahexaenoic Acid

n‐3 Tetracosapentaenoic acid (24:5n‐3, TPAn‐3) and tetracosahexaenoic acid (24:6n‐3, THA) are believed to be important intermediates to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3) synthesis. The purpose of this study is to report for the first time serum concentrations of TPAn‐3 and THA and their response to changing dietary α‐linolenic acid (18:3n‐3, ALA) and DHA. The responses will then be used in an attempt to predict the location of these fatty acids in relation to DHA in the biosynthetic pathway. Male Long Evans rats (n = 6 per group) were fed either a low (0.1% of total fatty acids), medium (3%) or high (10%) ALA diet with no added DHA, or a low (0%), medium (0.2%) or high (2%) DHA diet with a background of 2% ALA for 8 weeks post‐weaning. Serum n‐3 and n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations (nmol/mL ± SEM) were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Serum THA increases from low (0.3 ± 0.1) to medium (5.8 ± 0.7) but not from medium to high (4.6 ± 0.9) dietary ALA, while serum TPAn‐3 increases with increasing dietary ALA from 0.09 ± 0.04 to 0.70 ± 0.09 to 1.23 ± 0.14 nmol/mL. Following DHA feeding, neither TPAn‐3 or THA change across all dietary DHA intake levels. Serum TPAn‐3 demonstrates a similar response to dietary DHA. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate that increases in dietary ALA but not DHA increase serum TPAn‐3 and THA in rats, suggesting that both fatty acids are precursors to DHA in the biosynthetic pathway.