Influence of cooking techniques on food quality, digestibility, and health risks regarding lipid oxidation

Thermal processing and in vitro digestion of n-3 pork: Effects on the oxidative and digestive properties of proteins and lipids

This study assessed the oxidation of proteins and lipids, as well as the digestive properties of six different sources of n-3 pork, after treatment with four thermal processing methods (sous vide (SV), steaming (ST), boiling (BO), and frying (FR)) and in vitro digestion. Results showed antioxidant (selenium) was associated with reduced oxidation of n-3 pork during processing and digestion. SV significantly reduced the oxidation of pork proteins and lipids and the loss of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) compared with other processing methods. After in vitro digestion, SV caused n-3 pork to exhibit higher protein and lipid digestibility, increasing the bioaccessibility of α-linolenic acid (ALA) (81.04 %), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (78.16 %), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (77.28 %). Therefore, selenium addition was beneficial for improving the oxidative stability of pork, and SV can minimize nutrient losses during the processing and digestion of pork and improve the bioavailability of n-3 PUFAs.

The effects of different cooking methods on nutrients, bioactive components and antioxidant activities of Naematelia aurantialba were revealed by simulating in vitro digestion

In order to explore a scientific and reasonable cooking method for Naematelia aurantialba (N. aurantialba), the effects of six cooking methods on the proximate composition and in vitro simulated digestion of amino acids, bioactive substances, and antioxidant properties of N. aurantialba after cooking were investigated. The results revealed that the ash, protein and amino acid contents of deep-frying and roasting were higher than those of steaming and boiling. The amino acid content of deep-frying was 5.8 times higher than that of boiling. In simulated digestion experiments, amino acid content was notably higher in samples cooked by deep-frying and stir-frying, and lower in those prepared with water-based methods. Essential amino acids were most abundant in deep-frying samples, approximately 2.18 times higher than in boiling samples. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were high in oil-based cooking methods and polysaccharide content increased significantly in microwave. The oil-based cooking was higher antioxidant activity than water-based methods. This research could serve as a foundation for refining the culinary and processing approaches for N. aurantialba and potentially other wild edible mushrooms.

Minimizing food oxidation using aromatic polymer: From lignin into nano-lignin

Food loss and waste caused by oxidation result in environmental and economic losses and health threats. Lignin is an abundant aromatic polymer with varied antioxidant capacity, which can reduce food oxidation caused by radical species exposure. The lignin antioxidant strength can be influenced by source, type, structure, processing, degradation products, chemical modifications, and particle size. Lignin in micro- or nano-particles has high reactivity and is associated with increased surface area to improve antioxidant capacity. Lignin can be used as a food additive to suppress lipid and protein oxidation, although its effect on fruit/vegetable oxidation needs to be discussed. The lignin antioxidant properties are promising to be applied in food industries, such as food additives, animal feed supplements, and antioxidant packaging designs. However, there are challenges and limitations to consider, such as the potential for toxicity reactions in some individuals and the need for further research to understand its effects on different food products fully. As a feed nutrition, lignin can improve meat quality. Meanwhile, loading lignin in the packaging matrix can extend the food shelf life through antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and UV-block. Lignin also improves packaging properties (conventional and 3D-printing fabrication) to maintain food quality, e.g., changes in mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, water vapor permeability, and other influences. This article reviews lignin's role as a natural antioxidant in the food industry. Future directions and discussions relate to prooxidative mechanisms, toxicity, fruit and vegetable preservation mechanisms, inhibition of protein oxidation, activity to food enzymes (fruit ripening enzyme activators and inhibitors of cellulase and β-glucosidase enzyme), dispersity in packaging matrices, and material diversification for 3D printing.

Exploring molecular mechanisms underlying changes in lipid fingerprinting of salmon (Salmo salar) during air frying integrating machine learning-guided REIMS and lipidomics analysis

Lipid oxidation in air-fried seafood poses a risk to human health. However, the effect of a prooxidant environment on lipid oxidation in seafood at different air frying (AF) temperatures remains unknown. An integrated machine learning (ML) - guided REIMS and lipidomics method was applied to explore lipid profiles, lipid oxidation, and lipid metabolic pathways of salmons under different AF temperatures (140, 160, 180, and 200 °C). A significant difference in the lipidomic fingerprinting of air-dried salmon at different temperatures was shown by the main ML methods (neural networks, support vector machines, ensemble learning, and naïve bayes). In total, 773 differential expression metabolites (DEMs) were identified, including glycerophospholipids (GPs), glycerides (GLs), and sphingolipids. A total of 34 DEMs with p values <0.05 and variable importance of projection values >1.0 were analyzed, belonging to linoleic acid metabolism, GL metabolism, and GP metabolism pathways. Correlation network analysis revealed that some characteristic DEMs (phosphatidylcholine, lyso-phosphatidylcholine, triglycerides, fatty acids, and phosphatidylethanolamine) were highly correlated with lipid oxidation. In addition, variations of volatile compounds, color values, texture characteristics, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance values were analyzed to corroborate the oxidation characteristics.

Oxidation protection efficiency of the combination of Minthostachys mollis K. and Origanum vulgare L. essential oils with "chain-breaking" and "termination-enhancing" antioxidant mechanisms

The use of antioxidants is known to reduce lipid oxidation. This study aimed to assess the interaction of two antioxidant mechanisms, namely, "chain-breaking" and "termination-enhancing" by combining natural antioxidants derived from "oregano" (Origanum vulgare L.) and "peperina" (Minthostachys mollis K.) essential oils (EOs) in an accelerated oxidation process of sunflower oil at 60°C. Concentrations of 0.05% w/w (1) and 0.02% w/w (2) of the combined oregano and peperina EOs were evaluated. Chemical and volatile oxidation markers were determined in comparison with the pure compounds, an antioxidant-free control, and a BHT-treated sample (0.02% w/w). Although the combinations exhibited lower oxidation indicator values (Anisidine ≈ 136) compared to the control (Anisidine ≈ 213), no evidence of a synergistic effect was observed (Anisidine: Oregano 1 ≈ 52; Oregano 2 ≈ 199; Peperina 1 ≈ 155; Peperina 2 ≈ 153), indicating that the combination did not enhance their antioxidant activity beyond that of the pure EOs. Thus, evaluating these combinations in other food matrices is important. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Food oxidation is one of the main causes of food spoilage, and the search for natural antioxidants has become a necessity for society's increasing food knowledge and consumption preference. The research is focused on demonstrating that not only natural phenolic compounds with a "chain-breaking" mechanism have efficient antioxidant activity but also non-phenolic terpenes using the "termination enhancer" mechanism are efficient, but also the combination of them, which provides more alternative antioxidants for industrial applications.

Exploring factors influencing late evening eating and barriers and enablers to changing to earlier eating patterns in adults with overweight and obesity

Late evening eating is a potential risk factor for overconsumption and weight gain. However, there is limited qualitative research investigating the complex factors that influence late evening eating in adults living with obesity. Identifying the factors that influence late evening eating can inform interventions to reduce late evening eating and associated health risks. Therefore, this study aimed to: i) explore factors that contribute to eating late, and ii) apply the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model to understand the barriers and enablers to changing to earlier food intake timings in UK adults who report eating late. Semi-structured interviews with seventeen participants [32.47 ± 6.65 years; 34.68 ± 7.10 kg/m2; 71% female (n = 12); 41% White (n = 7)] investigated reasons for late evening eating and the potential barriers and enablers to changing to earlier eating patterns. Thematic analysis identified four main contributors to late evening eating: 1) internal signals (e.g., feeling hungry in the evening); 2) external and situational factors (e.g., work schedules and the food-rich environment); 3) social factors (e.g., interactions with family) and 4) behavioural and emotional factors (e.g., personal preferences and negative feelings in the evening). Time constraints and work schedules were identified as main barriers to changing to earlier eating patterns. Whereas, having high motivation (e.g., contentment with eating earlier in the evening) and interpersonal support were identified as main enablers to eating earlier. This study provides in-depth insights into the psychological, social, and environmental factors contributing to late evening eating. The findings highlight potential targets for future interventions to facilitate earlier eating times in individuals at risk of overweight and obesity.

Exploration of changes in sensory, physicochemical properties and microbial metabolic activities of grass carp meat with five thermal processing treatments during refrigerated storage

This study aimed to employed the effects of five thermal processing methods, namely steaming (SM), boiling (BO), frying (FY), roasting (RO), and vacuum sealing (SV), on the sensory, physicochemical properties, and microbial composition of grass carp meat during refrigerated storage, alongside unheated raw meat (RW) as control. The results showed that thermal treatment improved the sensory quality and shelf life of refrigerated grass carp meat, and their shelf life was RW < BO Collapse

Key Words

• Correlation analysis
• Grass carp
• Microbial metabolism
• Refrigeration
• Thermal processing

Collapse

MESH Headings Collapse

Grants Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Lu Zhang National R&D Center for Freshwater Fish Processing, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China School of Health, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China
Yaqin Yu National R&D Center for Freshwater Fish Processing, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China
Chunming Tan School of Health, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China
Shi Nie National R&D Center for Freshwater Fish Processing, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China
Qinghui Wen School of Health, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China
Zongcai Tu National R&D Center for Freshwater Fish Processing, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China School of Health, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China

Collapse

Food contaminants: Impact of food processing, challenges and mitigation strategies for food security

Food preparation involves the blending of various food ingredients to make more convenient processed food products. It is a long chain process, where each stage posing a risk of accumulating hazardous contaminants in these food systems. Protecting the public health from contaminated foods has become a demanding task in ensuring food safety. This review focused on the causes, types, and health risks of contaminants or hazardous chemicals during food processing. The impact of cooking such as frying, grilling, roasting, and baking, which may lead to the formation of hazardous by-products, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heterocyclic amines (HCAs), acrylamide, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), furan, acrolein, nitrosamines, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and trans-fatty acids (TFAs). Potential health risks such as carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and cardiovascular effects are emerging as a major problem in the modern lifestyle era due to the increased uptakes of contaminants. Effects of curing, smoking, and fermentation of the meat products led to affect the sensory and nutritional characteristics of meat products. Selecting appropriate cooking methods include temperature, time and the consumption of the food are major key factors that should be considered to avoid the excess level intake of hazardous contaminants. Overall, this study underscores the importance of understanding the risks associated with food preparation methods, strategies for minimizing the formation of harmful compounds during food processing and highlights the need for healthy dietary choices to mitigate potential health hazards.

Microwave Heating Characteristics on Lipid Quality in Sterilized Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Using Designed Heating Processing

The aim of this study was to simulate microwave heating characteristics to investigate the lipid quality in rainbow trout, including the impact of the heating rate, maximum temperature, and thermal processing level on the extent of lipid oxidation and on the fatty acid extraction coefficient. Increasing F0 from 3 to 6 min improved fatty acid retention at high heating rates but led to a decrease in the measured results at low heating rates. Elevated thermal processing levels and maximum temperatures were observed to intensify the oxidation. At F0 = 3 min, an increase in maximum temperature led to an increase in the total lipid extraction coefficient but a decrease in the fatty acid extraction coefficient. However, an increase in maximum temperature resulted in a decrease in both extraction coefficients when F0 was 6 min. The coefficient spectra of fatty acid extraction obtained from the microwave and traditional heat treatments showed nonparallel trends, confirming the presence of non-thermal effects during microwave thermal processing. In conclusion, compared to conventional heat treatment methods, microwave processing has significant potential for enhancing the lipid quality of ready-to-eat rainbow trout products and effectively reducing production costs.

Quality and stability of frying oils and fried foods in ultrasound and microwave-assisted frying processes and hybrid technologies

Frying is a popular cooking method that produces delicious and crispy foods but can also lead to oil degradation and the formation of health-detrimental compounds in the dishes. Chemical reactions such as oxidation, hydrolysis, and polymerization contribute to these changes. In this context, emerging technologies like ultrasound-assisted frying (USF) and microwave (MW)-assisted frying show promise in enhancing the quality and stability of frying oils and fried foods. This review examines the impact of these innovative technologies, delving into the principles of these processes, their influence on the chemical composition of oils, and their implications for the overall quality of fried food products with a focus on reducing oil degradation and enhancing the nutritional and sensory properties of the fried food. Additionally, the article initially addresses the various reactions occurring in oils during the frying process and their influencing factors. The advantages and challenges of USF and MW-assisted frying are also highlighted in comparison to traditional frying methods, demonstrating how these innovative techniques have the potential to improve the quality and stability of oils and fried foods.

GC-MS, GC-IMS, and E-Nose Analysis of Volatile Aroma Compounds in Wet-Marinated Fermented Golden Pomfret Prepared Using Different Cooking Methods

The cooking method is extremely important for the production of low-salt, wet-marinated, fermented golden pomfret because it strongly influences its flavor components and organoleptic quality. There are also significant differences in flavor preferences in different populations. The present study analyzed differences in the aroma characteristics of wet-marinated fermented golden pomfret after boiling, steaming, microwaving, air-frying, and baking using a combination of an electronic nose, GC-IMS, and SPME-GC-MS. Electronic nose PCA showed that the flavors of the boiled (A), steamed (B), and microwaved (C) treatment groups were similar, and the flavors of the baking (D) and air-frying (E) groups were similar. A total of 72 flavor compounds were detected in the GC-IMS analysis, and the comparative analysis of the cooked wet-marinated and fermented golden pomfret yielded a greater abundance of flavor compounds. SPME-GC-MS analysis detected 108 flavor compounds, and the results were similar for baking and air-frying. Twelve key flavor substances, including hexanal, isovaleraldehyde, and (E)-2-dodecenal, were identified by orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and VIP analysis. These results showed that the cooking method could be a key factor in the flavor distribution of wet-marinated fermented golden pomfret, and consumers can choose the appropriate cooking method accordingly. The results can provide theoretical guidance for the more effective processing of fish products and the development of subsequent food products.

The Antioxidant Effect of Burdock Extract on the Oxidative Stability of Lard and Goose Fat during Heat Treatment

Concerns regarding product quality and nutrition are raised due to the effects of high temperatures on frying fats. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of temperature and burdock extract addition in relation to quality parameters for dietary lard and goose fat exposed to heating. In order to monitor quality changes, animal fats and 0.01% additivated fats were heated at different temperatures (110, 130, 150, 170, 190, and 210 °C for 30 min). Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances test (TBARS), peroxide value (PV), iodine value (IV), acid value (AV), saponification value (SV), total polar compounds (TPoC), total phenolic content (TPC), fatty acid (FA) content, and microscopic examination were established in order to quantify the level of oxidative rancidity. Heating temperature and additivation had a significant (p < 0.001) effect on peroxide value. In all fats, values of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances significantly (p < 0.001) increased with heating temperature, but values decreased when burdock extract was added in a proportion of 0.01%. Positive correlations were found between AV and PV for lard (r = 0.98; p < 0.001) and goose fat (r = 0.96; p < 0.001). The heating temperature had a significant effect on total MUFAs in both lard and goose fat (mostly in non-additivated fat). Statistical analysis of the data showed that the addition of burdock extract at a concentration of 0.01% significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the installation of oxidation process in alimentary fats heated at different temperatures. Animal fats were well protected from oxidation by burdock extract, which demonstrated its efficacy as an antioxidant; it may be used to monitor the fats oxidation and to estimate their shelf-life stability.

Tracing the Bioaccessibility of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Fish during Cooking Treatment

The effect of cooking on the contents of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in foods has been widely studied, but whether cooking-induced structural and chemical modifications in foods affect the oral bioaccessibility of PFAS remains largely unknown. In this study, three kinds of fishes with different fat contents were selected, and the bioaccessibility of PFAS during cooking treatment (steaming and frying) was evaluated using in vitro gastrointestinal simulation with gastric lipase addition. The results showed that related to their molecular structures, the bioaccessibility of an individual PFAS varied greatly, ranging from 26.0 to 108.1%. Cooking can reduce the bioaccessibility of PFAS, and steaming is more effective than oil-frying; one of the possible reasons for this result is that the PFAS is trapped in protein aggregates after heat treatment. Fish lipids and cooking oil ingested with meals exert different effects on the bioaccessibility of PFAS, which may be related to the state of the ingested lipid/oil and the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids. Gastric lipase boosted the release of long-chain PFAS during in vitro digestion, indicating that the degree of lipolysis considerably influences the bioaccessibility of hydrophobic PFAS. Estimated weekly PFAS intakes were recalibrated using bioaccessibility data, enabling more accurate and reliable dietary exposure assessments.

Nutritional and chemical composition of Alpinia zerumbet leaves, a traditional functional food

Alpinia zerumbet, a species of the Zingiberaceae family, is a common plant in tropical and subtropical areas used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases and also included as food in the traditional Okinawan diet (Japan). The leaves and rhizomes of this plant are used as spice and flavoring in foods such as rice, meats, and pasta. Studies of the chemical and nutritional characteristics of fresh leaves and of leaves submitted to thermal treatments such as boiling and steaming are lacking. In the current study, the leaves of A. zerumbet were subjected to boiling or steaming for 10, 20, and 30 min as part of the thermal treatments. The study also provides noteworthy results regarding the proximate composition, physical-chemical data, minerals, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, volatile compounds, and LC-MS chromatographic profiles of the extracts produced with fresh leaves and with thermal treatments. The carbohydrate content of A. zerumbet leaves improved during the thermal treatments, showing an increase after steaming (18.86 to 19.79%) and boiling for 30 min (25.85%). After boiling treatment for 20 min, a significant amount of protein was found (6.79%) and all heat treatments resulted in low content of lipid (<1.0%). The boiling treatment for 10 min (BT10) resulted in the highest concentrations of total phenolic components (TPC), 339.5 mg/g, and flavonoids (TF), 54.6 mg/g, among the three thermal treatments (BT10, BT20 and BT30). The results of the steaming treatments (ST 10, 20, and 30 min) differed, with ST20 leading to higher TPC (150.4 mg/g) and TF (65.0 mg/g). The quantity of total phenolics and flavonoids, as well as the antioxidant activity, were significantly affected by the cooking method and the length of time of sample exposure to heat. The samples boiled for 30 and 10 min had higher concentrations of antioxidant activity as measured by the phosphomolybdenum and DPPH methods (151.5 mg/g of extract and 101.5 μg/mL, respectively). Thirty-eight volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified by chromatographic analysis of fresh and thermally treated leaves of A. zerumbet. Terpenoids were the predominant class of volatile compounds in the fresh leaves and in all thermal treatments. p-Cymene, 1,8-cineole, 4-terpineol, linalool, α-copaene and β-bisabolene have the greatest impact on overall aroma perception, with odor activity values (OAV) greater than five. Among the phenolic compounds identified by LC-HRMS in the extracts of fresh and thermally treated leaves were proanthocyanidins, (+) catechin, (-) epicatechin, quercetin-3-O-glucoronide, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoronide, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, pinocembrin, alpinetin, pinostrobin, and other compounds. The present results support the traditional use of this plant as a potential food with properties that certainly contribute to health improvement.