Seasonal dynamics of fatty acid content of a common food fish from the Yenisei river,Siberian grayling, Thymallus arcticus

Seasonal variations of fatty acid contents in muscle tissue of one of the main food fish species in Siberian rivers, grayling, Thymallus arcticus, were studied over 3 years. Under a comparatively low range of water temperature variations, spawning appeared to be the main cause of seasonal changes in contents of quantitatively prominent and essential fatty acids in fish filets. In general, fish accumulated essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA), in their muscle tissue before reproductive seasons and then the PUFA seemed to be transferred into gonads during their formation. Hard roe of Siberian grayling had 3–4 times higher PUFA contents, than had that of the muscle tissue. The fish species, T. arcticus, was found to be a valuable source of the essential PUFA, including EPA and DHA, for human diet.     

Effect of boiling and frying on the content of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids in muscle tissue of four fish species

Frozen samples of common fish species, sea trout (Salmo trutta), from Norway and Siberia, herring (Clupea harengus pallasi), rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata) and cod (Gadus morhua maris-albi), collected from a wholesale market in Krasnoyarsk city (Siberia, Russia) were analyzed. Special attention was paid to long-chain essential polyunsaturated fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic, 20:5ω3 (EPA) and docosahexaenoic, 22:6ω3 (DHA). Heat-treatment (cooking and frying) did not in general significantly decrease the contents of EPA and DHA compared to raw fish species, except for a modest reduction in Norwegian trout during frying. Boiled trout appeared to be a more valuable fish dish for obtaining the officially recommended appropriate daily intake of EPA + DHA for humans. Herring and sole had intermediate values, while boiled cod had a comparatively low value.     

Production of Agaricus brasiliensis mycelium from food industry residues as a source of antioxidants and essential fatty acids

Agaricus brasiliensis is a medicinal mushroom traditionally employed in prevention and treatment of cancer, used as immunostimulant and as a source of antioxidants. We investigated the chemical composition of the mycelium produced by submerged (SF) and solid‐state fermentation (SSF), using residues from food industry as substrates. After fermentation, antiradical activity and levels of antioxidants were enhanced, indicating that the micro‐organism produces these metabolites. For myceliated substrate (mushroom mycelia grown around and into the substrate particles) obtained by SSF, phenolics ranged from 18.57 to 70.46 mg g^?1 and flavonoids from 0.83 to 4.51 mg g^?1. For myceliated substrate obtained by SF, the variation was 27.19 to 66.99 mg g^?1 and 0.75 to 5.34 mg g^?1 for phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. The fatty acid profile determined by FT‐ICR MS and UPLC‐MS showed predominance of palmitic, linoleic, linolenic and oleic acids. Our findings indicated that mycelium has nutraceutical potential and can be incorporated in food supplements.     

Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals and omega‐3 fatty acids in commercially available Korean functional fish oil supplements

In this study, the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals and omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid; DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid; EPA), as well as chemical indices including acid and peroxide values were determined among twenty‐four commercially available functional fish oil supplements. The sum of indicator PCB congeners (congeners 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180) was below the limit of quantification of 0.043 mg kg^?1. Metallic compounds (Cd, Pb, Hg and As) were not detected in all fish oil supplement samples. The relative percentages of EPA and DHA in fish oil supplements ranged from 25% to 80%. The acid values ranged from 0.1 to 1.4 mg KOH per g oil, and peroxide values ranged from 2.7 to 28.8 meq per kg oil. All fish oil supplement samples tested in current study met the safety standard for fish oil supplements set by Korean government as well as International standard.     

Phytochemicals and heavy metals content of hairless canary seed: A variety developed for food use

Canary seed is one of the top four specialty crops grown in Western Canada. Currently it is used entirely in food mixtures for caged birds but our previous studies have shown its unique composition and potential use in food and non-food applications. Through improvements by plant breeding a hairless variety was developed for human consumption and animal feeding. This study was aimed at investigating phytochemicals and heavy metals in hairless canary seed in comparison with the hairy variety and common wheat using three milling fractions (wholegrain, starchy flour and bran). The levels of bound and unbound phenolic acids, phytate, trypsin and amylase inhibitors tended to be similar in the three grains at a given level of processing. This was also true for most heavy metals tested although hairy canary seed exhibited a significantly higher concentration of copper while both canary seed varieties contained more nickel and zinc than wheat. Condensed tannins, alkaloids and deoxynivalenol (DON) were not detected in any of the crops while very low levels of aflatoxin were detected in all three grains. The results show that both hairless and hairy canary seed possess phytochemicals and heavy metals profile close to that of wheat demonstrating the potential of hairless canary seed as a food crop due to the absence of harmful hairs.     

A marine unicellular alga in diets of pregnant and lactating rats as a source of ω3 fatty acids for the developing brain of their progeny

The period of brain development in rats occurs during the late pregnancy and early lactation periods. During that time a large quantity of omega-3 (ω3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, mostly decosahexaenoic acid, is deposited in the brain lipids of the developing and growing pup. A dietary source of ω3 fatty acid should be provided during this period to the dams' diet to assure sufficient of ω3 fatty acids to the developing progeny. Although a wide variety of lipids from plants and marine animals was examined in this respect, we provide herein for the first time, experimental data that indicate that the marine unicellular alga Nannochloropsis can be efficiently used as a dietary source of the ω3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid for pregnant and lactating dams. Furthermore, the dietary ω3 lipids of the alga are efficiently transferred to the developing foetus and pups to support the requirements for normal brain development.     

Intakes of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls via consumption of fish from Taihu Lake, China: A risk-benefit assessment

Exposure risks of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) via consumption of nine fish species from Taihu Lake in China and associated benefits, through ingestion of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) in fish, were evaluated. The concentrations of PBDEs, PCBs and ω-3 PUFAs in fish from Taihu Lake ranged from 98.2 to 269 pg/g, from 279 to 1071 pg/g and from 0.9 to 2.0 mg/g, respectively. Omega-3 PUFAs accounted for 11.2-20.9% of the total fatty acid amounts. The PBDE/PCB contamination levels were moderate. To achieve the recommended intake of 250 mg/d of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the associated PUFA and PBDE/PCB intakes from the species were estimated. Consumption of the species, to achieve the recommended EPA + DHA intake, did not exceed the allowable daily consumption of contaminated fish. Even though, consumers should make a sensible choice for fish species to maximise benefits and minimise risks.     

Enzyme deactivation treatments did not decrease the beneficial role of oat food in intestinal microbiota and short‐chain fatty acids: an in vivo study

BACKGROUND: Steaming and roasting treatments are widely used enzyme deactivation methods in the oat food industry in China. Whether or not the enzyme deactivation treatments affect the nutritional function of oat foods is unknown. In the current study, we examined the effects of 4‐week ingestion of steamed or roasted oat foods on the intestinal bacteria and short‐chain fatty acids of rats. RESULTS: Compared with rats taking no oat foods, rats taking normal oat foods or enzyme‐deactivated oat foods showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) counts of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. in colon, significantly lower (P < 0.05) counts of Enterococcus spp. and coliforms in colon, and significantly higher (P < 0.05) levels of butyrate and acetate in colonic digesta. In addition, rats taking infrared roasting (IR)‐treated oat foods also demonstrated significantly higher (P < 0.05) fecal Lactobacillus spp. counts and significantly lower (P < 0.05) cecal and fecal counts of E. coli, Enterococcus spp. and coliforms than rats taking no oat foods. As for the comparison between the enzyme‐undeactivated oat group and the three enzyme‐deactivated oat groups, there were no significant differences in most of the parameters (P > 0.05), though a few exceptions did exist. CONCLUSION: Enzyme deactivation treatments did not decrease the beneficial role of oat food in the intestinal microbes and short‐chain fatty acids of rats. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Aframomum stipulatum (Gagnep) K. Schum and Aframomum giganteum (Oliv. & Hanb) K. Schum as Aroma Tincto Oleo Crops resources: essential oil,fatty acids,sterols, tocopherols,and tocotrienols composition of different fruit parts of Congo varieties

BACKGROUND: Today, few known plant species provide both an essential oil (EO) and a vegetable oil (VO). Seed and husk of two Aframomum species were investigated and compared in terms of EO, fatty acids, tocopherols, and tocotrienols. RESULTS: EO yield reaches 15.3 g kg⁻¹ in the seeds and 3.2 g kg⁻¹ in the husks, while VO yield is 180.0 g kg⁻¹ in the seeds and 25.0 g kg⁻¹ in the husks. β‐Pinene, 1,8‐cineol, α‐selinene, terpine‐4‐ol, linalool, myrtenal and β‐caryophyllene are the major compounds of seed and husk EO. Fatty acid analysis of two Aframomum species shows that oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids were the major compounds of VO. Total sterol contents reached 4.3 g kg⁻¹ in seed VO and 8.5 g kg⁻¹ in husk VO. An appreciable amount of tocopherols (0.52 g kg⁻¹) was found in seed VO. CONCLUSION: The seed and husk oil of A. stipulatum and A. giganteum fruits are rich sources of many bioactive constituents such as fatty acids, sterols, tocopherols and tocotrienols. These tropical wild fruits can be considered as new Aroma Tincto Oleo Crops (ATOC) resources that contain both EOs and VOs. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry