Paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) profiles and toxification of short-necked clams fed with the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense

As a part of our studies on paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) accumulation kinetics in bivalves, short-necked clam Tapes japonia was experimentally contaminated with PSP by being fed with the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days, and the processes of PSP accumulation and bioconversion were investigated: the toxicity level was determined by mouse bioassay and toxin components were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The strain of A. tamarense used in this study possessed a specific toxicity of 186.7 +/- 81 (mean +/- S.D., n = 5) x 10(-6) MU/cell. Total toxin concentration of this strain was 140.4 +/- 61 (mean S.D., n = 5) fmol/cell. The toxicity level of short-necked clams increased almost in parallel with the abundance of A. tamarense, reaching 1.8, 3.2, 3.8, 3.5 and 4.6 MU/g meat for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days of feeding, respectively. The accumulation rates of PSP toxins, which are the ratio of the total amount of toxins accumulated in the bivalves to the estimated intake in each feeding experiment, were 7.5, 8.1, 5.7, 4.2 and 4.4% for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days, respectively. At the end of each exposure period, many undigested algal cells were found in pseudofeces under microscopic observation. There was a remarkable difference in the relative proportions of the predominant toxin components between A. tamarense and short-necked clams. The most notable difference was the change in the relative amounts of C2 (carbamoyl-N-sulfo-11beta-hydroxysaxitoxin sulfate), GTX1 and GTX 4 during the first two days. In the toxic bivalves, the amount of C2, which is dominant in A. tamarense, decreased to below half a percent after being ingested. Subsequently, the amount of GTX1 in the shellfish meat reached 50.1 mol%, while that of GTX4 decreased to about half of that in A. tamarense. As for the configuration of 11-hydroxysulfate, PSP components in A. tamarense exist almost exclusively as beta-epimers (GTX3, GTX4, C2 and C4), accounting for 72.8 mol% of the total. This contrasts with the case of the short-necked clams, where the beta-epimers represented 25.8, 33.8, 30.8, 36.8 and 28.5 mol% of the total after 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days, respectively. PSP components seemed to be converted rapidly at an early stage of the feeding of A. tamarense.     

Accumulation of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) and biotransformation of its components in oysters, Crassostrea gigas, fed with the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense

As a part of our studies on the mechanism of uptake of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) and the kinetics of its accumulation in bivalves, oysters Crassostrea gigas were experimentally contaminated with PSP by being fed with the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days. Temporal variations in the PSP contents and their profiles in oysters during the feeding experiment were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the toxin profile of the oysters was compared with that of A. tamarense. Toxins excreted from the infested oysters into the seawater for 2 and 10 days were recovered and analyzed by HPLC. PSP toxicity rapidly appeared in the tissues of oysters and their toxicity levels reached 0.6 (0.3), 2.2 (1.1), 1.0 (0.5), 3.4 (1.6) and 1.1 (0.5) MU/g (nmol/g) shucked meat at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days, respectively. The accumulation rates of toxin, calculated from the total amount (nmol) of toxins expressed by the total cell number fed during the exposure period and the toxicity of the oysters, were 14.1, 18.7, 5.1, 14.9 and 3.2% for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days. During feeding experiments, the toxin profile of oysters changed substantially, showing marked differences from the proportions found in the toxigenic dinoflagellate used as food. The toxin components in this strain existed almost exclusively as beta-epimers, which accounted for 66.3 mol% of the total. This contrasts with the case of the oysters, where the beta-epimers represented 24.8, 29.8, 25.1, 27.3 and 25.2 mol% of the total at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days, respectively. The amount of gonyautoxin-1 (GTX1) accumulated in oysters increased linearly and slowly for 8 days and the maximum content of GTX1 reached 51.3 mol%. The composition of GTX group compounds recovered from the seawater in which the oysters had been reared was a little different from that within the oyster tissues.     

Matrix effect on paralytic shellfish toxins quantification and toxicity estimation in mussels exposed to Gymnodinium catenatum

Paralytic shellfish toxins were quantified in whole tissues of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to blooms of the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum in Portuguese coastal waters. A validated liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection, involving pre-chromatographic oxidation was used to quantify carbamoyl, N-sulfocarbamoyl and decarbamoyl toxins. In order to test for any matrix effect in the quantification of those toxins, concentrations obtained from solvent and matrix matched calibration curves were compared. A suppression of the fluorescence signal was observed in mussel extract or fraction in comparison to solvent for the compounds dcGTX2 + 3, GTX2 + 3 and GTX1 + 4, while an enhancement was found for C1 + 2, dcSTX, STX, B1, dcNEO and NEO. These results showed that a matrix effect varies among compounds. The difference of concentrations between solvent and matrix matched calibration curves for C1 + 2 (median = 421 ng g?1) exceeded largely the values for the other quantified compounds (0.09-58 ng g?1). Those differences were converted into toxicity differences, using Oshima toxicity equivalence factors. The compounds C1 + 2 and dcNEO were the major contributors to the differences of total toxicity in the mussel samples. The differences of total toxicity were calculated in ten mussel samples collected during a 10-week blooming period in Portuguese coastal lagoon. Values varied between 53 and 218 μg STX equivalents kg?1. The positive differences mean that the estimated toxicity using solvent calibration curves exceed the values taking into account the matrix. For the toxicity interval 200-800 μg STX equivalents kg?1 an increase was found between 44 and 28%.     

Matrix effect on paralytic shellfish toxins quantification and toxicity estimation in mussels exposed to Gymnodinium catenatum

Paralytic shellfish toxins were quantified in whole tissues of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to blooms of the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum in Portuguese coastal waters. A validated liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection, involving pre-chromatographic oxidation was used to quantify carbamoyl, N-sulfocarbamoyl and decarbamoyl toxins. In order to test for any matrix effect in the quantification of those toxins, concentrations obtained from solvent and matrix matched calibration curves were compared. A suppression of the fluorescence signal was observed in mussel extract or fraction in comparison to solvent for the compounds dcGTX2?+?3, GTX2?+?3 and GTX1?+?4, while an enhancement was found for C1?+?2, dcSTX, STX, B1, dcNEO and NEO. These results showed that a matrix effect varies among compounds. The difference of concentrations between solvent and matrix matched calibration curves for C1?+?2 (median?=?421?ng?g^?1) exceeded largely the values for the other quantified compounds (0.09–58?ng?g^?1). Those differences were converted into toxicity differences, using Oshima toxicity equivalence factors. The compounds C1?+?2 and dcNEO were the major contributors to the differences of total toxicity in the mussel samples. The differences of total toxicity were calculated in ten mussel samples collected during a 10-week blooming period in Portuguese coastal lagoon. Values varied between 53 and 218?µg STX equivalents kg^?1. The positive differences mean that the estimated toxicity using solvent calibration curves exceed the values taking into account the matrix. For the toxicity interval 200–800?µg STX equivalents kg^?1 an increase was found between 44 and 28%.     

First paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) infestation of bivalves due to toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamiyavanichii, in the southeast coasts of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

The mussel Mytilus edulis and the cultured ark shell Anadara broughtonii in the southeast coasts of the Seto Inland Sea were contaminated with paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) following the appearance of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamiyavanichii in early December 1999. A. tamiyavanichii plankton collected around the Straits of Naruto on December 3, 1999 showed PSP toxicity, of which 83 mol% was accounted for by GTX2, GTX3 and GTX4. Its specific toxicity was 112.5 fmol/cell, and one MU was equivalent to 7,200 cells. Toxicity values at the beginning of toxification were 4.7 MU/g for the ark shell and 7.3 MU/g for the mussel. In the former, the value remained at almost 4 MU/g, resulting in prohibition of marketing for about two months. In the latter, it sharply decreased to less than 4 MU/g. These bivalves collected during the toxification period were dissected into five tissues, mantle, adductor muscle, hepatopancreas, gills and "others", and submitted to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The cultured ark shell accumulated GTX2, GTX3 and STX as major components and GTX1, GTX4, GTX5, neoSTX, dcSTX and PX1-3 (C1-C3) as minor ones. The amount of GTX3 decreased with time, while STX tended to increase. At the early stage of PSP toxification, toxins were accumulated in the gills and "others", most of which were quickly detoxified. On the other hand, PSP of the toxified mussel consisted of GTX4 as a main component, and GTX1, GTX2, GTX3, GTX5, STX and PX1-2 (C1-C2) as minor ones. Its toxin composition pattern was similar to that of the ingested causative plankton. Its total toxin decreased soon after disappearance of the dinoflagellate. During the decrease of toxicity, PSP tended to be retained in the hepatopancreas, resulting in accumulation of 50 mol% of total toxin.     

Occurrence of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP)-producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense in Hiroshima Bay, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, during 1993-2004 and its PSP profiles

To assess levels of shellfish intoxication by the paralytic shellfish poison (PSP)-producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense, potential health risks to human shellfish consumers and the possible need for regulatory intervention, yearly variations of maximum cell density of this species were examined from 1993 to 2004 in Kure Bay and Kaita Bay, which are located within Hiroshima Bay, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The seawater temperature was determined concomitantly. In Kure Bay, maximum concentrations of 1,400 and 1,300 cells/mL at 0 and 5 m depths were observed on 21 and 24 April 1997. In Kaita Bay, remarkably high concentrations above 1,000 cells/mL of A. tamarense were observed in two out of three years investigated. These facts suggest that the environment in both bays is favorable for the propagation of A. tamarense. The temperature range at which the natural population of A. tamarense blooms was generally from 12 to 16 degrees C. Four strains (ATKR-94, -95, -97 and -01) from Kure Bay and one strain (ATKT-97) from Kaita Bay were established. The strain ATKR-94, cultured in modified SW-2 medium at 15 degrees C for 15 days, showed a specific toxicity of 33.8 x 10(-6) MU/cell. The toxins in all five strains exist almost exclusively as beta-epimers (C2 (PX2 or GTX8), GTX3, dcGTX3 and GTX4), which accounted for 54.9 to 73.0 mol% of the total. The corresponding a-epimers (C1 (PX1 or epi-GTX8), GTX2, dcGTX2 and GTX1) accounted for 6.0 to 28.9 mol%. The toxin profiles of ATKR-97 and ATKT-97 were characterized by unusually high proportions of low-potency sulfocarbamoyl toxin, which comprised 62.4 and 68.2 mol%, respectively, of total toxins. In the toxic bivalves, the low-toxicity sulfocarbamoyl components, major components of A. tamarense, were present in amounts of only a few percent, suggesting that in vivo conversion of PSP occurs after ingestion. A comparison of the toxin profiles of the causative dinoflagellate and contaminated bivalves showed that PSP components exist in the bivalves in the form of alpha-epimers, presumably owing to accumulation or storage of the toxins.     

Analysis of paralytic shellfish toxins and their metabolites in shellfish from the North Yellow Sea of China

Samples of toxic scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) and clam (Saxidomus purpuratus) collected on the northern coast of China from 2008 to 2009 were analysed. High-performance liquid chromatography with post-column oxidation and fluorescence detection was used to determine the profile of the main paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in these samples and their total toxicity. Hydrophilic interaction liquid ion chromatography with mass spectrometric detection confirmed the toxin profile and detected several metabolites in the shellfish. Results show that C1/2 toxins were the most dominant toxins in the scallop and clam samples. However, GTX1/4 and GTX2/3 were also present. M1 was the predominant metabolite in all the samples, but M3 and M5 were also identified, along with three previously unreported presumed metabolites, M6, M8 and M10. The results indicate that the biotransformation of toxins was species specific. It was concluded that the reductive enzyme in clams is more active than in scallops and that an enzyme in scallops is more apt to catalyse hydrolysis of both the sulfonate moiety at the N-sulfocabamoyl of C toxins and the 11-hydroxysulfate of C and GTX toxins to produce metabolites. This is the first report of new metabolites of PSP toxins in scallops and clams collected in China.     

Analysis of paralytic shellfish toxins and their metabolites in shellfish from the North Yellow Sea of China

Samples of toxic scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) and clam (Saxidomus purpuratus) collected on the northern coast of China from 2008 to 2009 were analysed. High-performance liquid chromatography with post-column oxidation and fluorescence detection was used to determine the profile of the main paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in these samples and their total toxicity. Hydrophilic interaction liquid ion chromatography with mass spectrometric detection confirmed the toxin profile and detected several metabolites in the shellfish. Results show that C1/2 toxins were the most dominant toxins in the scallop and clam samples. However, GTX1/4 and GTX2/3 were also present. M1 was the predominant metabolite in all the samples, but M3 and M5 were also identified, along with three previously unreported presumed metabolites, M6, M8 and M10. The results indicate that the biotransformation of toxins was species specific. It was concluded that the reductive enzyme in clams is more active than in scallops and that an enzyme in scallops is more apt to catalyse hydrolysis of both the sulfonate moiety at the N-sulfocabamoyl of C toxins and the 11-hydroxysulfate of C and GTX toxins to produce metabolites. This is the first report of new metabolites of PSP toxins in scallops and clams collected in China.     

Assessment of the quantitative determination of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins by pre-column derivatization and elimination of interfering compounds by solid-phase extraction

Monitoring programmes for paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in bivalve molluscs still rely heavily on the use of mouse bioassays (MBA) for consumer protection. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methodology (Lawrence method) was implemented in 1996 in the Portuguese monitoring programme as a complementary means of analysis. Comparison between MBA and HPLC was done at the time only by a qualitative approach due to the scarce number of positive samples tested. More quantitative data were obtained recently when studying toxin profiles in Moroccan shellfish, and the correlation found between these two methodologies is reported here for the first time. Two different matrices were studied: blue mussel and the giant cockle Acanthocardia tuberculatum. A good linear correlation was obtained for both matrices. However, a second-degree polynomial best fitted the data at both low and high extremes of toxicity. According to the HPLC quantitative results, 13% of false-negatives could be obtained by MBA due to an underestimation of toxicity near the limit of detection of the MBA. Difficulties on relying solely on HPLC for consumer protection have been aroused with uncommon matrices, such as imported clams or crustaceans, due to the presence of high concentrations of interfering compounds. The solid-phase extraction step of the Lawrence method was implemented to eliminate an unknown compound that could be mistaken for saxitoxin, and an 80% reduction of another common unknown compound eluting close to decarbamoylsaxitoxin. The implementation of the HPLC methodology achieved so far allows a high degree of consumer protection without the need to resource to animal sacrifice.     

Effects of atropine on plasma amino acid profiles and on the synthesis of individual milk proteins in dairy cows fed with pasture

Effects of atropine on blood plasma amino acid profile and on the yields and concentration of milk components were investigated in 12 Friesian cows in early lactation. Cows were housed indoors and fed with cut pasture ad libitum. Each cow received four treatments over 12 d during a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square experiment. Treatments were: control (saline); low dose (L; 30 microg atropine/kg body weight (BW)); medium dose (M; 40 microg atropine/kg BW); and 2 x L dose, 2 h apart (2 x L). On each of four treatment days, cows were milked at about 7.00, after which treatments were administered by subcutaneous injection. Cows were milked again at 2 h, 6 h and 10 h after injection. Milk samples were collected at each milking. Immediately after the 2 h milking, blood samples were drawn from each cow and the second injection was given for the 2 x L treatment. Atropine reduced hourly milk yield, and concentrations and hourly yields of total protein, casein, whey protein, alpha-casein, beta-casein, kappa-casein, beta-lactoglobulin and alpha-lactalbumin, but by differing amounts. Milk concentrations of bovine serum albumin and immunoglobulin G were increased by atropine, and overall yields of these proteins were mostly unchanged. Atropine lowered concentrations of most, but not all, amino acids in blood plasma, with essential amino acids reduced more than non-essential amino acids. Concentrations of alpha-amino N in whole blood, and glucose and insulin in blood plasma, fell after atropine injection. There was no difference between the L and M doses of atropine, but the 2 x L dose had greater effects on milk composition than the single doses. For yields of milk and milk components, the effect of the 2 x L dose was also more persistent. The results highlight the differential synthesis of individual milk proteins, and suggest that atropine might be useful for evaluating the mechanisms regulating milk protein composition.     

Measurement of paralytic shellfish toxins in molluscan extracts: comparison of the microtitre plate saxiphilin and sodium channel radioreceptor assays with mouse bioassay, HPLC analysis and a commercially available cell culture assay

This study compared five methods of measuring paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) including the long-used mouse lethality bioassay, a commercially available cell culture test (MIST ® Quantification kit), HPLC analysis, and two newly developed radioreceptor assays utilizing mammalian sodium channels and saxiphilin. Methods were challenged with toxic shellfish extracts prepared according to the AOAC official method. The best correlations between predicted toxicity values being 0.9 or better, were those between HPLC analysis when compared with both radioreceptor assays and the mouse lethality bioassay, as well as that between the saxiphilin and the sodium channel radioreceptor assays. In all cases, statistically significant correlations existed between the toxicity measurements of the same extracts. The ratios between some methods were not unitary as measured by the slopes of the regression lines used for correlation analyses. HPLC analysis predicted more toxicity than all of the bioassays. The saxiphilin assay underestimated toxicity relative to the mouse bioassay, the MIST ® kit determinations and the sodium channel assay. The sodium channel assay predicted there to be less toxicity than the mouse bioassay and the MIST ® kit. Of all of the techniques used, the MIST ® kit correlation with the mouse bioassay was nearest to one. Each method possesses different virtues and it may be that a multi-method approach would harness the benefits of each method for various aspects of a shellfish testing regime.     

Lipophilic toxin profiles associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning in scallops, Patinopecten yessoensis, collected in Hokkaido and comparison of the quantitative results between LC/MS and mouse bioassay

Lipophilic toxins associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in scallops, Patinopecten yessoensis, collected in Hokkaido, Japan were quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Pectenotoxin-6 (PTX6) and yessotoxin (YTX) were the dominant toxins in the scallops, although the percentages of these toxins were different depending on the production area or the sampling period. The quantitative results obtained for the scallops in LC/MS and in mouse bioassay (MBA) were compared. Fifty of the 55 samples found to be exceeding the local quarantine level (0.025 MU/g whole meat) in Hokkaido by LC/MS were quantified by MBA as being below the quarantine level. It is suggested that this discrepancy is due to poor detection of YTX by MBA. These results indicate that LC/MS is a better method than MBA in terms of sensitivity and accuracy to quantify known lipophilic toxins, including YTX.     

Development and application of DNA markers to detect adulteration with Scopolia japonica in the medicinal herb Atractylodes lancea

Food Science and Biotechnology - Atractylodes lancea rhizomes are commonly consumed in east Asia as traditional medical herbs. However, in Korea, because of their morphological similarity, A....     

Determination of RNA and ATP in the rumen liquid of cows fed with diets differing in forage to concentrate ratio

The effect of dietary composition on the RNA and ATP concentrations in rumen bacteria was determined. Four dry Simmental cows received two diets (H, hay only; C, hay and concentrate) and samples of rumen fluid were taken at three different times during the day. Rumen fluid was analysed for DM, N, pH, VFA, RNA, ATP and total bacterial count. There were no significant differences in RNA concentration whether it was determined in fresh or frozen samples or after having been precipitated overnight. The effect of time of sampling was almost always significant: for pH, ammonia nitrogen, propionic acid, n-butyric acid and total VFA this was particularly evident at 12:00 h in comparison with 08:00 and 16:00 h (P < 0·05). Bacterial DM, total count and ATP content decreased linearly with increasing time from the morning meal (P < 0·01), while the highest RNA content was observed at 12:00 h and the lowest at 16:00 h (P < 0·01). The bacterial content (DM basis) of RNA and the RNA:N, RNA:total count and ATP:N ratios were significantly higher with diet C, while differences for ATP (μg mg^?1 DM), nitrogen (mg per 100 mg DM) and ATP:RNA ratio were not significant. The effect of sampling time was similar for the two diets: the RNA content of bacterial cells increased from 08:00 h to 12:00 h (P < 0·05), while the RNA:N, RNA:total count and ATP:RNA ratios increased from 08:00 to 12:00 h and decreased from 12:00 to 16:00 h. The ATP content had a similar trend to that of RNA, but differences with time were not significant. Although the use of RNA and ATP as bacterial markers has to be considered with some caution, their determination together with rumen parameters, such as pH, VFA and ammonia, could contribute to useful investigations of the anaerobic fermentative process.     

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of cereal and microbial phytases in growing pigs fed diets with marginal phosphorus supply

Two experiments with a total of 76 growing pigs (average initial body weight 16.6 kg) were conducted to compare the efficacy of cereal phytases (wheat and rye) and supplemented microbial phytase (Natuphos®). Using the slope ratio technique, the dose–response relationship between five levels of phytase (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 U kg^?1) and the apparent absorption of phosphorus (P) within each source of phytase was calculated. Graded phytase levels in the diets were obtained by adding increasing amounts of microbial phytase or phytase‐containing wheat (Exp 1) or rye (Exp 2) to phytase‐inactivated basal diets at the expense of phytase‐inactivated wheat (Exp 1) or rye (Exp 2). Except for wheat phytase, addition of phytase to the basal diets increased (P < 0.05) apparent P absorption, with microbial phytase being more efficient (P < 0.05) than cereal phytase. There were no significant differences in apparent P absorption between the wheat‐ or rye‐based diets when either microbial or cereal phytases were supplemented from 0 to 200 U kg^?1. It could be derived from the results of this study, by means of regression analysis, that the efficacy of cereal phytases was 40% compared to microbial phytase. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Short communication: Diurnal profiles of conjugated linoleic acids and trans fatty acids in ruminal fluid from cows fed a high concentrate diet supplemented with fish oil, linseed oil, or sunflower oil

Trans-18:1 and 18:2 isomer composition in ruminal fluid during the daily feeding cycle was examined in 3 cows fed a high concentrate diet (35:65) with 5% (DM basis) sunflower oil (SO), 5% linseed oil (LO), or 2.5% fish oil (FO) in a 3 x 3 Latin square with 3 4-wk periods. Grass hay and concentrate mixtures were fed at 0900, 1300, and 1700 h daily. Ruminal fluid was collected at 0900, 1100, 1300, 1500, 1700, 2000, and 0000 h. Feeding SO resulted in the greatest mean concentrations (% of total fatty acids) of trans10,cis12-18:2 and cis9,trans11-18:2. In particular, trans10,cis12-18:2 with SO was greater at 1500 (0.29%), 2000 (0.34%), and 0000 h (0.25%) relative to 0900 h (0.07%). Cis9,trans11-18:2 concentration increased from 0.47% at 0900 h to a peak of 2.06% at 1100 h; it remained greater than the percentage determined at 0900 h at 1300 (1.4%) through 0000 h (1.1%). Concentration of trans11,cis15-18:2 was greatest with LO, ranging from 3.3% (0900 h) to a peak of 11.4% at 2000 h. Mean trans10-18:1 concentration ranked by diet was SO > FO > LO. Peak trans10-18:1 with SO was observed at 1700 h (14.9%) compared with 0900 h (5.1%). Trans11-18:1 did not differ with diet or time. Stearic acid decreased over time with all diets reaching minimum concentrations at 1700 to 2000 h relative to 0900 h. Feeding FO, however, decreased mean 18:0 concentration 4-fold compared with LO or SO. The moderate effect on concentration of trans-18:1 coupled with accumulation of 18:2 intermediates and the decrease of 18:0 over time suggest that oils reduced the biohydrogenation of 18:2 isomers to trans-18:1.     

Korean red ginseng combined with nattokinase ameliorates dyslipidemia and the area of aortic plaques in high cholesterol-diet fed rabbits

Male white rabbits were fed a high cholesterol diet supplemented with red ginseng (RG) or red ginseng plus nattokinase (RGNK). RG and RGNK significantly reduced increased serum triglycerides levels and aortic plaque area in a hypercholesterol diet fed rabbits. Moreover, only RGNK reduced hepatic cholesterol and cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity levels. Therefore, the present study suggests RGNK might be a potential therapeutic approach for atherogenesis.     

Fat assimilation and indicators of lipid metabolism in the blood of premature infants fed milk mixtures with different fat composition

The efficacy and adequacy of fat component depending on the feeding type (breast milk, Malyutka, Malyutka with a new fatty composition and Similak mixtures) were defined in the course of feeding 90 premature infants aged 33 to 37 weeks on the basis of clinical observations, determination of fat assimilation and the main indicators of lipid metabolism. All the mixtures were shown to be tolerated well. No significant differences were revealed in the mean daily weight gain and in the monthly body length gain. The children fed breast milk showed a higher assimilation of fats and an increase in the cholesterol level in the blood serum. The indicators of fat retention in children fed Similak and Malyutka with a new fatty composition mixtures were similar to those in children on natural feeding. The milk mixtures under consideration are found to be effective enough and thus can be used for feeding premature children born to mothers with hypo- and agalactia.