Cyclic fatty acids in sunflower oils during frying of frozen foods with oil replenishment

Frying of frozen foods has become popular because it considerably reduces cooking time. Polymers and cyclic fatty acid monomers (CFAM) formed during frying are potentially toxic and therefore their production should be minimized. Twenty discontinuous fryings of different frozen foods were carried out over ten consecutive days, in sunflower oil (SO) and in high‐oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSO), by adding fresh oil after each frying to bring the volume of the fryer oil back to 3 L. CFAM methyl ester derivates were hydrogenated, isolated, concentrated and quantified by HPLC using a reverse‐phase column, followed by gas chromatography. After 20 fryings, significantly higher contents of polar material, polymers and CFAM (all p <0.001) were found in SO than in HOSO. Bicyclic compound formation was four times higher in SO (p <0.001). The fat from the fried potatoes presented a polymer content very similar to that of their corresponding oils. The 100‐g rations of the SO‐fried potatoes from the 20^th frying supply 49 or 15%, respectively, more polymers and CFAM and 1 mg more bicyclic fatty acids than the 100‐g rations of HOSO‐fried potatoes. Because digestion and absorption of polar material, polymers and CFAM occur, the data clearly show the advantageousness and advisability of frying with HOSO rather than SO.     

Effect of oil replenishment during deep-fat frying of frozen foods in sunflower oil and high-oleic acid sunflower oil

Frying stability of sunflower oil (SO) with 23% oleic acid and 61% linoleic acid, and of high-oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSO) with 74% oleic acid and 13% linoleic acid was studied during 20 discontinuous deep-fat fryings of various frozen foods, with or without frequent replenishment of the used oil with fresh oil. Alterations of both oils were measured by column, gas-liquid and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. Total polar content and compounds, related to thermoxidative changes, and diacylglycerides, related to hydrolytic changes, increased in all oils during frying but reached higher levels in SO than in HOSO. Nevertheless, the increased levels of diacylglycerides observed may result from the frozen potatoes prefried in palm oil. Oleic acid in HOSO and linoleic acid in SO significantly decreased, but the fatty acid modifications that occurred during the repeated fryings were not only related to thermoxidative alteration but also to interactions between the bath oil and the fat in the fried products. Data from this study also indicated that HOSO performed more satisfactorily than SO in repeated fryings of frozen foods. Moreover, frequent addition of fresh oil throughout the deep-frying process minimized thermoxidative and hydrolytic changes in the frying oils and extended the frying life of the oils.     

Utilization of high‐oleic rapeseed oil for deep‐fat frying of French fries compared to other commonly used edible oils

Changes in chemical, physical and sensory parameters of high‐oleic rapeseed oil (HORO) (NATREON?) during 72 h of deep‐fat frying of potatoes were compared with those of commonly used frying oils, palm olein (PO), high‐oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) and partially hydrogenated rapeseed oil (PHRO). In addition to the sensory evaluation of the oils and the potatoes, the content of polar compounds, oligomer triacylglycerols and free fatty acids, the oxidative stability by Rancimat, the smoke point and the anisidine value were determined. French fries obtained with HORO, PO and HOSO were still suitable for human consumption after 66 h of deep‐fat frying, while French fries fried in PHRO were inedible after 30 h. During the frying period, none of the oils exceeded the limit for the amount of polar compounds, oligomer triacylglycerols and free fatty acids recommended by the German Society of Fat Science (DGF) as criteria for rejection of used frying oils. After 72 h, the smoke point of all oils was below 150 °C, and the amount of tocopherols was reduced to 5 mg/100 g for PHRO and 15 mg/100 g for HORO and HOSO. Remarkable was the decrease of the oxidative stability of HOSO measured by Rancimat. During frying, the oxidative stability of this oil was reduced from 32 h for the fresh oil to below 1 h after 72 h of frying. Only HORO showed still an oxidative stability of more than 2 h. From the results, it can be concluded that the use of HORO for deep‐fat frying is comparable to other commonly used oils.     

Antioxidant Evaluation of Coriander Extract and Ascorbyl Palmitate in Sunflower Oil Under Thermoxidation

The objectives of this study were to evaluate isolated and synergistic antioxidant effects of coriander extract and ascorbyl palmitate (AP) in sunflower oil subjected to thermoxidation, and to verify their influence on the oxidative resistance of α-tocopherol, which occurs naturally in safflower oil. Sunflower oil samples with 1,600 mg/kg coriander extract, 500 mg/kg AP, and a mixture of those two antioxidants were heated to 180 °C for 30 h. Samples were taken at 0, 10, 20 and 30 h and analyzed to evaluate oxidative stability, total polar compounds, and α-tocopherol content. Results were subjected to variance analyses and Tukey tests at a 5% significance level, in a factorial scheme, to an entirely casual delineation. Coriander extract and AP delayed lipid oxidation and promoted the retention of α-tocopherol when added separately to sunflower oil and subjected to thermoxidation. The mixture of the antioxidants showed a higher antioxidant effect, thereby demonstrating their synergy under these conditions.     

Frying Stability of Purified Mid-Oleic Sunflower Oil Triacylglycerols with Added Pure Tocopherols and Tocopherol Mixtures

To determine the effects of the addition of pure tocopherols to triacylglycerols, α, γ, and δ tocopherols were added singly and in various combinations to stripped mid-oleic sunflower oil (SMOSUN). Tortilla chips were fried in the treated oils and then aged at ambient temperature to determine storage stability of the fried food. Frying oils were evaluated for total polar compounds (TPC) as an indicator of oil deterioration, and they were also analyzed for retention of tocopherols. To determine effects of tocopherols on fried-food stability, chips were evaluated for hexanal as an indicator of oxidative stability and for odor characteristics by a trained, experienced analytical sensory panel. Oils extracted from the tortilla chips were also analyzed for residual tocopherols. TPC were highest in the SMOSUN control with no additives followed by the SMOSUN containing only α tocopherol. The SMOSUN oil containing γ tocopherol had the best fry life as indicated by the lowest TPC. Hexanal content and rancid odor intensity were highest in the chips fried in the SMOSUN control and in the SMOSUN containing only α tocopherol. The most stable tortilla chips were fried in SMOSUN containing all three (α, γ, and δ) tocopherols; however, the lowest hexanal levels were measured when γ and δ tocopherols were added at their highest concentrations.     

Tocopherols and tocotrienols in Finnish foods: Oils and fats

The tocopherols and tocotrienols of vegetable oils, cod liver oil, margarines, butter and Voimariini dairy spread were analyzed by HPLC. The total tocopherol content varied from 4 (coconut oil) to 242 mg/100 g (wheat germ oil). α-tocopherol equivalents varied from 2 (coconut oil) to 225 mg/100 g (wheat germ oil). Semisoft and soft margarines had an average total tocopherol of 53 and 61 mg, and an average α-tocopherol equivalent of 17 and 27 mg/100 g, respectively. Hard margarines averaged 29 mg total tocopherol and 9 mg α-tocopherol equivalent/100 g. The average tocopherol content of butter and Voimariini was 2 and 15 mg/100 g, respectively, and the average α-tocopherol equivalent 2 and 6 mg/100 g.     

Effect of rosa mosqueta (Rosa rubiginosa) extract on the performance of chilean hazelnut oil (Gevuina avellana Mol.) at high temperature

The effect of the addition of rosa mosqueta husk extract (RME) on thermal oxidation of nontreated (HZO) and treated (THZO) Chilean hazelnut seed oil was evaluated at 180°C for 18 h. THZO to which was added 339 mg/kg of α-tocopherol was used as a comparison model because RME supplied 314 mg/kg of α-tocopherol. Formation of polar compounds and degradation of tocols and carotenoid, pigments were studied in these model systems. Degradation of trans-rubixanthin, trans-lycopene, and trans-β-carotene followed a pseudo first-order kinetics model. These pigments showed the same degradation rate in both HZO and THZO. The addition of RME to HZO and THZO decreased significantly (P<0.05) the formation of polar compounds, lead to less degradation of tocols, and improved their oxidative stability with respect to oils without RME. This behavior can be attributed to carotenoid-tocopherol interaction, suggesting that these pigments can protect tocols against degradation at high temperature.     

Studies on phytosterol oxides. I: Effect of storage on the content in potato chips prepared in different vegetable oils

Potato chips fried in palm oil, sunflower oil, and high-oleic sunflower oil were studied for the content of different phytosterol oxides during 0 to 25 weeks of storage in the dark. Oxidation products of sitosterol (24α-ethyl-5-cholesten-3β-ol) and campesterol (24α-methyl-t-cholesten-3β-ol) were synthesized to help identify the phytosterol oxides. The oxides of phytosterols were analyzed by preparative thin-layer chromatography, solid-phase extraction, capillary column gas chromatography (GC), and GC-mass spectrometry. Epimers of 7-hydroxysitosterol and 7-hydroxycampesterol; 7-ketositosterol and 7-ketocampesterol; epimers of 5,6-epoxy-sitosterol and 5,6-epoxy-campesterol; 24α-ethylcholestane-3β,5,6β-triol (dihydroxysitosterol) and 24α-methylcholestane-3β,5,6β-triol (dihydroxycampesterol) were detected and quantitated in the samples of chips fried in different vegetable oils. Potato chips fried in palm oil had the lowest level of total sterol oxides, ranging from 5 to ca. 9 ppm in the lipids from time 0 to 25 wk of storage. The level of total sterol oxides in chip samples fried in sunflower oil ranged from 46 to 47 ppm, and the lipids in samples fried in high-oleic sunflower oil ranged from 35 to 58 ppm from 0 time to 25 wk of storage. During 25 wk of storage no considerable increase in sterol oxides was observed in the samples of chips fried in palm oil and sunflower oil. The chip samples fried in high-oleic sunflower oil had slightly higher levels of sterol oxides after 10 and 25 weeks of storage. In addition to the levels of individual sterol oxides, a new method for enrichment of phytosterol oxides from the unsaponifiables and full-scan mass spectra of various oxidation products of sitosterol and campesterol are reported in this paper. Part of the results were presented at the 86th Annual Meeting of the AOCS, May 7–11, 1995, San Antonio, TX.     

Cyclic FA monomers in high-oleic acid sunflower oil and extra virgin olive oil used in repeated frying of fresh potatoes

The measurement of FA profile, polar material, oligomers, oxidized triacylglycerols (OTG), total polyphenols, and cyclic FA monomers (CFAM) was used to evaluate the alteration of a high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) and an extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) used in 75 domestic fryings of fresh potatoes with frequent replenishment (FR) of unused oil. CFAM were absent in the unused EVOO but appeared in small amounts in the unused HOSO. Although polar material, oligomers, OTG, and CTAM contents increased and linoleic acid and polyphenols content decreased in both oils during repeated frying, the changes produced should be considered small and related to the use of very stable oils and FR. Throughout the 75 fryings, the total CFAM concentration was higher in HOSO than in EVOO. OTG increased more quickly in EVOO, whereas oligomers increased more quickly in HOSO. Polar material and oligomer content appear significantly correlated (r=0.9678 and r=0.9739, respectively; for both, P<0.001) with the CFAM content. A 25% polar material and 12% oligomer content would correspond to about 1 mg·kg⁻¹ oil of CFAM. Data suggest that both oils, particularly EVOO, perform very well in frying, with a low production of oligomers, polar materials, and CFAM.     

Low-linolenic acid soybean oil—Alternatives to frying oils

Oil was hexane-extracted from soybeans that had been modified by hybridization breeding for low-linolenic acid (18∶3) content. Extracted crude oils were processed to finished edible oils by laboratory simulations of commercial oil processing procedures. Oils from three germplasm lines N83-375 (5.5% 18∶3), N89-2009 (2.9% 18∶3) and N85-2176 (1.9% 18∶3) were compared to commercial unhydrogenated soybean salad oil with 6.2% 18∶3 and two hydrogenated soybean frying oils, HSBOI (4.1% 18∶3) and HSBOII (<0.2% 18∶3). Low-18∶3 oils produced by hybridization showed significantly lower room odor intensity scores than the commercial soybean salad oil and the commercial frying oils. The N85-2176 oil with an 18∶3 content below 2.0% showed no fishy odor after 10 h at 190°C and lower burnt and acrid odors after 20 h of use when compared to the commercial oils. Flavor quality of potatoes fried with the N85-2176 oil at 190°C after 10 and 20 h was good, and significantly better at both time periods than that of potatoes fried in the unhydrogenated oil or in the hydrogenated oils. Flavor quality scores of potatoes fried in the N89-2009 oil (2.9% 18∶3) after 10 and 20 h was good and equal to that of potatoes fried in the HSBOI oil (4.1% 18∶3). Fishy flavors, perceived with potatoes fried in the low-18∶3 oils, were significantly lower than those reported for potatoes fried in the unhydrogenated control oil, and the potatoes lacked the hydrogenated flavors of potatoes fried in hydrogenated oils. These results indicate that oils with lowered linolenic acid content produced by hybridization breeding of soybeans are potential alternatives to hydrogenated frying oils.     

γ-tocotrienol as a hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant agent in rats fed atherogenic diets

This study was designed to determine whether incorporation of γ-tocotrienol or α-tocopherol in an atherogenic diet would reduce the concentration of plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and fatty acid peroxides, and attenuate platelet aggregability in rats. For six weeks, male Wistar rats (n=90) were fed AIN76A semisynthetic test diets containing cholesterol (2% by weight), providing fat as partially hydrogenated soybean oil (20% by weight), menhaden oil (20%) or corn oil (2%). Feeding the ration with menhaden oil resulted in the highest concentrations of plasma cholesterol, low and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and fatty acid hydroperoxides. Consumption of the ration containing γ-tocotrienol (50 μ/kg) and α-tocopherol (500 mg/kg) for six weeks led to decreased plasma lipid concentrations. Plasma cholesterol, low and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides each decreased significantly (P<0.001). Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances decreased significantly (P<0.01), as did the fatty acid hydroperoxides (P<0.05), when the diet contained both chromanols. Supplementation with γ-tocotrienol resulted in similar, though quantitatively smaller, decrements in these plasma values. Plasma α-tocopherol concentrations were lowest in rats fed menhaden oil without either chromanol. Though plasma α-tocopherol did not rise with γ-tocotrienol supplementation at 50 mg/kg, γ-tocotrienol at 100 mg/kg of ration spared plasma α-tocopherol, which rose from 0.60±0.2 to 1.34±0.4 mg/dL (P<0.05). The highest concentration of α-tocopherol was measured in plasma of animals fed a ration supplemented with α-tocopherol at 500 mg/kg. In response to added collagen, the partially hydrogenated soybean oil diet without supplementary cholesterol led to reduced platelet aggregation as compared with the cholesterol-supplemented diet. However, γ-tocotrienol at a level of 50 mg/kg in the cholesterol-supplemented diet did not significantly reduce platelet aggregation. Platelets from animals fed the menhaden oil diet released less adenosine triphosphate than the ones from any other diet group. The data suggest that the combination of γ-tocotrienol and α-tocopherol, as present in palm oil distillates, deserves further evaluation as a potential hypolipemic agent in hyperlipemic humans at atherogenic risk.     

Antioxidant synergy of α-tocopherol and phospholipids

The prevention of oxidation of a refined sardine oil by α-tocopherol at 0.04%, by several phospholipids [phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and cardiolipin (CL)] at 0.5%, as well as by combinations of α-tocopherol with each phospholipid, was investigated. The evolution of the oxidation process during 1 mon at 40±2°C was followed by a series of methods, measuring peroxide value (PV), diene, triene, and polyene index, and absorbance at 430 nm, while α-tocopherol and phospholipid content were being monitoried. Among these indices, PV was found to be the most adequate to follow the process. PC was the most effective individual antioxidant as shown by the PV values obtained at the end of the storage period, which were 54.0, 83.4, 87.9, and 97.7 meq O₂/kg for PC, CL, PE, and α-tocopherol, respectively. The highest synergistic effect was obtained with a mixture of α-tocopherol and PE, and the second and third best by mixtures made with PC and CL, respectively. The corresponding PV values recorded at the end of the period were 27.0, 35.0, and 58.0 meq O₂/kg. The high degree of synergy between PE and tocopherol is probably due to the occurrence of a simultaneous antioxidant mechanism involving Maillard compounds.     

Tocopherols in sea buckthorn (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hippophaë rhamnoides</Emphasis> L.) berry oil

The free tocopherol content in whole berries of six sea buckthorn cultivars grown in northeastern Poland and Belorussia was determined with HPLC. The total free tocopherol content in oil from whole berries was 101.4–128.3 mg/100 g of oil. α-Tocopherol was the predominant tocopherol of sea buckthorn berries, and only traces of γ-tocopherol were detected in the oil. α- and δ-Tocopherols constituted 62.5–67.9% and 32.1–37.5% of total tocopherol, respectively. The total free tocopherol content in oil of sea buckthorn cv. Nadbaltycka increased during maturation from 40.4 to 109.8 mg/100 g of oil. Green berries contained a marked amount of γ-tocopherol, but its content rapidly declined to traces when the color of berries turned from green to olive-yellow.     

Effects of various tocopherol-containing diets on tocopherol secretion into bile

γ-Tocopherol is abundant in common vegetable oil, but its concentration in plasma and liver is much lower than that of α-tocopherol. Discrimination between different forms of tocopherol is thought to take placevia the hepatic α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP). γ-Tocopherol, with a low binding capacity to α-TTP, is thought to be excretedvia the bile. Our previous studies showed that γ-tocopherol administered with sesame seed exhibits significantly higher concentrations in the plasma and liver of rats than γ-tocopherol alone. Thus, we attempted to confirm whether a much higher amount of γ-tocopherol rather than γ-tocopherol would be secreted in the bile, and whether sesame seed would suppress the secretion of γ-tocopherol. In one experiment, we examined the concentrations of α-or γ-tocopherol in the plasma, liver, and bile of rats fed diets containing 300 mg/kg of α-tocopherol, 300 mg/kg of γ-tocopherol, or 300 mg/kg each of α-tocopherol+γ-tocopherol, and in the other experiment, we compared the γ-tocopherol concentrations of rats fed a diet of γ-tocopherol alone to those of rats fed a γ-tocopherol+sesame seed diet (each diet contained 300 mg/kg γ-tocopherol). The bile collection was done over 6 h. The γ-tocopherol concentration in the bile was markedly lower than that of α-tocopherol, paralleling the concentrations in the plasma and liver. Intake of α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol together further lowered the concentration of γ-tocopherol in the bile as well as in the plasma and liver, compared to the intake of γ-tocopherol alone. The γ-tocopherol concentration in the bile, as well as in the plasma and liver, was markedly higher in the sesame seed-fed group than in the γ-tocopherol alone group. We found that the concentrations of α- or γ-tocopherol in the bile showed a good correlation with the concentrations of α- or γ-tocopherol in the liver, though the concentrations in the bile were substantially lower than those in the liver. These findings suggest that secretion into the bile is not a major metabolic route of α- or γ-tocopherol.     

Effect of γ-tocopherol on formation of nonvolatile lipid degradation products during frying of potato chips in triolein

Formation of undesirable odors and flavors during food processing operations is an important problem for the food industry. To determine the effect of γ-tocopherol on these negative attributes of fried food, we fried potato chips in triolein with 0, 100, or 400 ppm γ-tocopherol. Triolein extracted from potato chips was sampled for residual γ-tocopherol and nonvolatile degradation products after the chips were aged. RP-HPLC coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization MS and size-exclusion chromatography was used to analyze, samples for degradation products in the triolein absorbed in potato chips as well as the fryer, triolein. MS results showed that γ-tocopherol reduced the production of nonvolatile degradation products in the triolein absorbed by the potato chips and in the triolein in the fryer. Fryer oil samples and extracted potato chip oils with 400 ppm γ-tocopherol had a significantly lower production of degradation compounds than did samples with 100 ppm γ-tocopherol. Both fryer oils and potato chips containing 100 ppm γ-tocopherol had significantly fewer nonvolatile degradation products than did the samples without γ-tocopherol. These nonvolatile compounds are known precursors of negative odors and flavor compounds produced during the frying and aging of foods.     

Characterization of Aegean Olive Oils by Their Minor Compounds

This study presents a combined approach of establishing cultivar differences between Aegean olive oils, obtained from economically important olive oil producing cultivars (cv. Ayvalik and Memecik), based on chemometric evaluation of their content and in particular composition of the minor compounds. Evaluation of minor compounds with principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) indicated differentiation according to the cultivars. LDA produced a 100% correct group classification. Moreover, stigmasterol, apparent β-sitosterol and total sterols were found to have the highest discriminating power. Memecik oils were characterized by the highest content of antioxidant compounds (α-tocopherol, phenolic compounds and total phenolic compounds). On the other hand, Ayvalik oil had the highest level of total sterols. The data were analyzed statistically to evaluate the differences according to variety and crop season. The minor compounds of Ayvalik and Memecik oils presented statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) according to variety, except for the hydroxytyrosol and clerosterol content. The amount of α-tocopherol, total phenolic compounds, apparent β-sitosterol and total sterols varied with respect to crop season. A good correlation was observed between the amount of α-tocopherol, total phenolic compounds, apparent β-sitosterol and total sterols and some climatic variables.     

Review of stability measurements for frying oils and fried food flavor

Measurements of degradation in frying oils based on oil physical properties and volatile and nonvolatile decomposition products were reviewed. Rapid methods by means of test kits were also considered. Factors that affect the analysis of total polar components (TPC) in frying oils were examined. Relationships between TPC, free fatty acid (FFA) content, Food Oil Sensor readings (FOS), color change (ΔE), oil fry life and fried-food flavor were evaluated. Flavor scores for codfish, fried in fresh and discarded commercial frying oil blends, were dependent upon individuals in the consumer panel (n=77). Part (n=29) of the panel preferred the flavor of fresh fat; others (n=24) didn't; the rest (n=24) had no preference. FFA, FOS and TPC were analyzed in two soybean oils and in palm olein during a four-day period in which french fries were fried. Flavor score and volatiles of potatoes fried on days 1 and 4 in each oil were also determined. TPC, FFA and FOS significantly increased (P<0.05) in all oils during the frying period. TPC and FFA were highest in the used palm olein, and flavor of potatoes fried in palm olein on day 1 was less desirable than those fried in the soybean oils. Potatoes fried in day-1 oils had significantly higher concentrations (P<0.10) of several pyrazines and aldehydes than those fried in day-4 oils. Presented at the 84th Annual Meeting of the American Oil Chemists' Society, Anaheim, California, April 25–29, 1993.     

Sesame seed and its lignans produce marked enhancement of vitamin E activity in rats fed a low α-tocopherol diet

Three series of experiments demonstrated that sesame seed and its lignans cause significant elevation of α-tocopherol content in rats. In Experiment 1, 20% sesame seed (with a negligible amount of α-tocopherol) supplementing 10 (low), 50 (normal), or 250 (high) mg/kg α-tocopherol diets (protein and fat concentrations in diets were adjusted to 200 and 110 g/kg, respectively) all caused a significant increase of α-tocopherol in the blood and tissue of rats. In Experiment 2, groups of rats were fed five different diets: a vitamin E-free control diet, a low α-tocopherol diet, and three low α-tocopherol diets supplemented with 5, 10, and 15% sesame seed. Changes in lipid peroxides in liver, red blood cell hemolysis, and pyruvate kinase activity, as indices of vitamin E deficiency, were examined. These indices were high in the low α-tocopherol diet, whereas supplementation with even 5% sesame seed suppressed these indices completely and caused a significant increase of α-tocopherol content in the plasma and liver. In Experiment 3 two diets containing sesame lignan (sesaminol or sesamin) and low α-tocopherol were tested. Results in both of the sesame lignan-fed groups were comparable to those observed in the sesame seed-fed groups as shown in Experiment 2. These experiments indicate that sesame seed lignans enhance vitamin E activity in rats fed a low α-tocopherol diet and cause a marked increase in α-tocopherol concentration in the blood and tissue of rats fed an α-tocopherol-containing diet with sesame seed or its lignans.     

Comparison of the Frying Performance of High Oleic Oils Subjected to Discontinuous and Prolonged Thermal Treatment

Frying is a popular practice because of its unique sensory characteristics and low cost. The high temperature reached with this cooking method alters molecules present in the oil. The deterioration of the oil depends primarily on its chemical composition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the thermal stability of high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO), sunflower oil (SO) and mixed oil (MIX) during deep frying of French fries. Octanoic acid and unsaturated fatty acid (UFA)/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio showed a good correlation with total polar compounds (TPC) for all frying samples analyzed. HOSO and MIX were characterized by reduced levels of thermal degradation, while SO resulted in the highest values of oxidation products (highest TPC values). SO was also the oil more retained by the food matrix, whereas MIX was the least absorbed. HOSO and MIX, having a high oleic acid content (77.58 and 59.92 %, respectively) and a low linoleic acid content (13.42 and 25.70 %, respectively), showed the best characteristics for the frying process.     

Cholesterol oxidation in meat from chickens fed α-tocopherol-and β-carotene-supplemented diets with different unsaturation grades

The production of B-ring and side-chain oxysterols was evaluated in meat from chickens fed diets differing by the kind of oil or fat added. The effect of supplementary levels of natural antioxidants, as α-tocopherol and β-carotene, on the meat cholesterol oxidative stability was also studied. Lard, sunflower and olive oil were used as dietary fat. Raw and cooked meats were analyzed for oxysterols, and cholesterol was also quantified. Oxysterol analyses were carried out by combining the use of solid-phase extraction, thin-layer chromatography, capillary gas chromatography, and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Oxysterols were detected within the 0.1–0.5 μg/g range in raw meat. Cooking increased the oxysterol content of the meat, and levels as high as 5 μg/g muscle tissue were observed. B-Ring oxysterols were mainly produced: the α-and the β-epoxycholesterols, the 7α-and 7β-hydroxycholesterols, and the 7-ketocholesterol. The results showed that the meat from the chickens fed the olive oil-based diet containing α-tocopherol at 200 mg/kg of diet presented the best cholesterol oxidative stability. A positive effect could not be found for dietary β-carotene administered at levels of 15 and 50 mg/kg of diet. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the tissue cholesterol content was observed with the olive and the sunflower oil-based diets.