Impact of Precursors Creatine, Creatinine, and Glucose on the Formation of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines in Grilled Patties of Various Animal Species

Unraveling the relationships between processing conditions and PhIP formation in chemical model system and roast pork patty via principal component analysis

2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazole [4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP) is one of the higher levels of HAAs produced in protein foods during heating. The effects of heating temperature, time, and concentration of precursors on PhIP and related substances in the chemical model system and roast pork patty were studied using HPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS and GC-MS. Results showed that the heating temperature, time, and concentration of four precursors significantly affected PhIP and its related substances (P < 0.05) in the chemical model system. Among them, PhIP production was greatest when heating at 200 min with 220 °C, and the concentrations of phenylalanine, creatinine, glucose, and creatine added were 10, 20, 20, and 20 mmol/L, respectively. Moreover, as the fat proportion of roast pork patties increased, PhIP and its intermediate-phenylacetaldehyde concentrations increased substantially (P < 0.05). PCA results showed that the samples of PhIP and related substances gradually dispersed as the temperature and time increased, and there were obvious effects among them.

Formation and prediction of heterocyclic amines and N-nitrosamines in smoked sausages using back propagation artificial neural network

BACKGROUND

Heterocyclic amines (HAs) and N-nitrosamines (NAs) are formed easily during the thermal processing of food, and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that consuming HAs and NAs increases the risk of cancer. However, there are few studies on the application of back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) models to simultaneously predict the content of HAs and NAs in sausages. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cooking time and temperature, smoking time and temperature, and fat-to-lean ratio on the formation of HAs and NAs in smoked sausages, and to predict their total content based on the BP-ANN model.

RESULTS

With an increase in processing time, processing temperature and fat ratio, the content of HAs and NAs in smoked sausages increased significantly, while the content of HA precursors and nitrite residues decreased significantly. The optimal network topology of the BP-ANN model was 5-11-2, the correlation coefficient values for training, validation, testing and all datasets were 0.99228, 0.99785, 0.99520 and 0.99369, respectively, and the mean squared error value of the best validation performance was 0.11326. The bias factor and the accuracy factor were within acceptable limits, and the predicted values approximated the true values, indicating that the model has good predictive performance.

CONCLUSION

The contents of HAs and NAs in smoked sausages were significantly influenced by the cooking conditions, smoking conditions and fat ratio. The BP-ANN model has high application value in predicting the contents of HAs and NAs in sausages, which provides a theoretical basis for the suppression of carcinogen formation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Red Meat Heating Processes, Toxic Compounds Production and Nutritional Parameters Changes: What about Risk-Benefit?

The heating process is a crucial step that can lead to the formation of several harmful chemical compounds in red meat such as heterocyclic aromatic amines, N-Nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and acrylamide. Meat has high nutritional value, providing essential amino acids, bioactive compounds and several important micronutrients which can also be affected by heating processes. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the effects of different heating processes on both the safety and nutritional parameters of cooked red meat. The most-used heating processes practices were taken into consideration in order to develop a risk-benefit scenario for each type of heating process and red meat.

Heterocyclic aromatic amines in meat: Formation mechanisms, toxicological implications, occurrence, risk evaluation, and analytical methods

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are detrimental substances can develop during the high-temperature cooking of protein-rich foods, such as meat. They are potent mutagens and carcinogens linked to an increased risk of various cancers. HAAs have complex structures with nitrogen-containing aromatic rings and are formed through chemical reactions between amino acids, creatin(in)e, and sugars during cooking. The formation of HAAs is influenced by various factors, such as food type, cooking temperature, time, cooking method, and technique. HAAs exert their toxicity through mechanisms like DNA adduct formation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The research on HAAs is important for public health and food safety, leading to risk assessment and management strategies. It has also led to innovative approaches for reducing HAAs formation during cooking and minimizing related health risks. Understanding HAAs' chemistry and formation is crucial for developing effective ways to prevent their occurrence and protect human health. The current review presents an overview about HAAs, their formation pathways, and the factors influencing their formation. Additionally, it reviews their adverse health effects, occurrence, and the analytical methods used for measuring them.

Advantageous Effects of Sumac Usage in Meatball Preparation on Various Quality Criteria and Formation of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are mutagenic/carcinogenic compounds that can be formed during the cooking process of proteinaceous foods such as meat. Therefore, it is needed to inhibit or reduce their formations in cooked meats. Hereby, the effects of sumac usage (0.5%, w/w) in beef meatball preparation on the formation of HAAs and some quality parameters (water, pH, cooking loss, and lipid oxidation values) of meatballs cooked at 150 and 250 °C were investigated. The sumac usage caused a reduction in pH (p < 0.01), cooking loss (p < 0.05), lipid oxidation level (TBARS, p < 0.01), and total HAA amount (p < 0.05) of the samples. In addition, increasing the cooking temperature significantly decreased the pH value (p < 0.01) and increased the cooking loss (p < 0.05) of the samples. Only one compound, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo [4,5-ƒ]quinoxaline (MeIQx), from nine different HAAs studied in this study, could be determined, and the levels of the other HAAs studied were lower than their detection limits. On the other hand, MeIQx was not detected in the samples cooked at 150 °C, it was only determined in the control group samples cooked at 250 °C. The sumac usage completely inhibited MeIQx formation in the samples. Due to its positive effect on cooking loss value, lipid oxidation level, and MeIQx formation, it can be suggested to use sumac powder in meatball preparation.

Assessment of heterocyclic aromatic amines contents in flamed and braised chicken in Burkina Faso

The nutritional status of meat is tarnished by its association with the induced cooking contaminants. The aim of this study was to assess the heterocyclic aromatic amines profile and contents in processed chicken in Burkina Faso. Eight polar and apolar heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) including 2-mino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinolone (IQ), 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4, 3-b]indole (Trp-P1), 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P2), 2-mino-9H-pyrido-[2,3-b]indole (AαC), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4, 5- ]pyridine (PhIP), 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b] indole (MeAαC), 2-amino-3,4,8-rimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx) and 2-amino-3,8-imethylimidazo[4,5-]quinoxaline (MeIQx) were screened by high performance liquid chromatography from 29 samples of flamed chicken and 66 samples of braised chicken collected in Ouagadougou city. Apolar HAAs and polar HAAs were respectively 12 and 3 times more abundant in flamed chickens (32.66±10 and 3.48±10.39 ng/g, respectively) than in braised chickens (2.70±9.67 and 0.92 ng/g, respectively). The maximum levels of AαC were in the same proportions in flamed (12.01 ng/g) and braised chickens (14.13 ng/g). Flamed chicken had the highest Trp-P1 content (530.31 ng/g). The 4,8-DiMeIQx was not detected in braised chicken. The AαCs were more abundant in flamed than in braised chicken. The profile and the contents of the HAAs in processed chicken are related to cooking methods. Because of the high variability observed on the obtained concentrations, investigations on the contents of precursors in raw chicken, the effect of marinating ingredients on the formation of HAAs are needed.

Understanding the Development of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines in Fried Bacon and in the Remaining Oil after Pan-Frying in Five Different Vegetable Oils

The physicochemical properties of five vegetable oils (peanut, corn, rapeseed, sunflower seed, and soybean) and their impact on the development of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) in pan-fried bacon and in the remaining oil were investigated. Corn oil led to the lowest total free amino acids (FAAs) contents and glucose content of fried bacon (p < 0.05) and rapeseed oil led to the lowest creatine content of fried bacon (p < 0.05). Bacon fried in corn oil had the highest HAA contents (p < 0.05). The total HAA contents of the oils after frying were lowest in rapeseed and soybean oils (p < 0.05). The type of vegetable oil used affected the color of the fried bacon but not the flavor and taste (p < 0.05). To reduce the HAA concentrations of fried bacon, the type of vegetable oil should be considered.

The Effects of the Marination Process with Different Vinegar Varieties on Various Quality Criteria and Heterocyclic Aromatic Amine Formation in Beef Steak

Herein, the effect of the dipping (static) marination process (at 4 °C for 2 h) with different types of vinegar (balsamic, pomegranate, apple, and grape) on various quality properties, including texture and protein profile of beef steaks and the formation of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) in beef steaks cooked on a hot plate (at 200 °C for 24 min), were determined. The results showed that 3.12–4.13% of the marinate liquids were absorbed by beef steak as a result of the marination process. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between the marinated and cooked beef steaks in terms of water content, cooking loss, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value, hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness. However, significant differences were detected in terms of pH value and color values (L*, a*, and b*) (p < 0.01), and springiness, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo (4,5-f) quinoxaline (MeIQx) and total HAA content (p < 0.05). The marination with pomegranate vinegar resulted in the formation of darker steak, while a lighter one was obtained when apple vinegar was used in the marination. The use of balsamic and grape vinegar in the marination process decreased the springiness value compared to the control group. The myofibrillar proteins of beef steaks marinated with different types of vinegar generally showed a similar sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) profile. However, some differences were observed in the band density of some proteins depending on the trial and the type of marination. In this study, of the nine examined HAAs, only two (2-amino-3-methylimidazo (4,5-f) quinoline (IQ) and MeIQx) could be detected and quantified. IQ was detected only in the control group steak (up to 0.51 ng/g), while MeIQx was detected in all treatment groups (up to 2.22 ng/g). The total HAA content varied between 0.59–2.22 ng/g. It was determined that the marination process with different vinegar types had different effects on the total HAA content of the steaks. Using balsamic and apple vinegar in the marination process decreased the total HAA content compared to the control group, but this decrease was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). On the other hand, using grape and pomegranate vinegar in the marination process increased the total HAA content, but this increase was only significant (p < 0.05) in the marination with pomegranate vinegar.

Heterocyclic aromatic amine contents and quality characteristics of bacon as influenced by NaCl concentration of brine

Bacon usually have a high salt content. Excessive intake of salt could cause a harm to human health. Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are carcinogenic and mutagenic heterocyclic compounds formed by the reactions of precursor substances at high temperature. This study investigated the influence of different levels of NaCl on the HAA contents and quality characteristics of bacon. Moisture, a_w , L* value, b* value, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS), and carbonyl content increased significantly with a decrease in the NaCl concentration of the brine (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between treatments for a* value, pH, creatine content, sensory redness, bitterness, or off-odor (p > 0.05). Sensory evaluation showed that saltiness in bacon increased significantly with increased NaCl concentrations in brine. The increased NaCl concentrations decreased the total HAAs in fried bacon (p < 0.05). Moreover, the nonpolar HAA contents in bacon were higher than the polar HAA contents; salt concentration mainly affected the nonpolar HAA content. In summary, salt content had a significant influence on the HAA content and the quality characteristic of bacon.

Functional Properties of Meat in Athletes’ Performance and Recovery

Physical activity (PA) and sport play an essential role in promoting body development and maintaining optimal health status both in the short and long term. Despite the benefits, a long-lasting heavy training can promote several detrimental physiological changes, including transitory immune system malfunction, increased inflammation, and oxidative stress, which manifest as exercise-induced muscle damages (EIMDs). Meat and derived products represent a very good source of bioactive molecules such as proteins, lipids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Bioactive molecules represent dietary compounds that can interact with one or more components of live tissue, resulting in a wide range of possible health consequences such as immune-modulating, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, and antioxidative activities. The health benefits of meat have been well established and have been extensively reviewed elsewhere, although a growing number of studies found a significant positive effect of meat molecules on exercise performance and recovery of muscle function. Based on the limited research, meat could be an effective post-exercise food that results in favorable muscle protein synthesis and metabolic performance.

Inhibitory Effect of Tamarix ramosissima Extract on the Formation of Heterocyclic Amines in Roast Lamb Patties by Retarding the Consumption of Precursors and Preventing Free Radicals

Tamarix ramosissima has been widely used as barbecue skewers for the good taste and unique flavor it gives to the meat, but the effects of T. ramosissima on heterocyclic amine (HA) formation in roast lamb are unknown. The influence of T. ramosissima extract (TRE) on HA formation, precursors’ consumption, and free radicals’ generation in roast lamb patties were elucidated by UPLC-MS, HPLC, and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis, respectively. Six HAs were identified and compared with the control group; the total and polar HAs decreased by 30.51% and 56.92% with TRE addition at 0.30 g/kg. The highest inhibitory effect was found against 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-f]pyridine (PhIP) formation (70.83%) at 0.45 g/kg. The addition of TRE retarded the consumption of HA precursors, resulting in fewer HAs formed. The typical signal intensity of free radicals in roast lamb patties significantly decreased with TRE addition versus the control group (p < 0.05), and the higher the levels of the TRE, the greater the decrease in signal intensity. We propose that the inhibitory effects of TRE on HA formation, especially on polar HAs, were probably achieved by retarding the consumption of precursors and preventing free radicals from being generated in roast lamb patties. These findings provide valuable information concerning TRE’s effectiveness in preventing HA formation through both the precursor consumption and free radical scavenging mechanisms.

Chlorogenic acid and Epicatechin: An efficient inhibitor of heterocyclic amines in charcoal roasted lamb meats

There are few studies on controlling the formation of heterocyclic amines (HAs) by adding polyphenols to roasted lamb. The aim of this study was to assess the inhibitory effect of 0.025, 0.125, and 0.625 mmol of chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, rutin, quercetin and quinic acid on the formation of HAs in charcoal roasted lamb, respectively, by UHPLC-MS/MS. The results indicated that Harman, Norharman, PhIP, IQx and 8-MeIQx were detected, but both chlorogenic acid and epicatechin greatly inhibited the formation of IQx, 8-MeIQx, Norharman, Harman and PhIP, and epicatechin had better inhibitory effect than chlorogenic acid. PLSR-VID analysis suggested the key precursors of HAs formation in roasted lamb were glucose, ribose, fructose, isoleucine, valine, and lysine. In addition, this work also implied that the potential mechanism of inhibition of HAs formation by chlorogenic acid and epicatechin in roasted lamb might attribute to competitive chemical reactions between polyphenols and key precursors of HAs.

Determination of heterocyclic amines in braised sauce beef and the effects of different cooking conditions on the formation of heterocyclic amines

BACKGROUND

Cooked meat is a good source of high-quality protein. However, during long-term cooking of meat, radical-induced lipid and protein oxidation may lead to the formation of poisonous compounds, such as heterocyclic amines (HAs). This work investigated a testing method for HAs and it describes that cooking temperature, cooking time and repeated cooking times have influences on the overall quality of braised sauce beef and the effect of HAs formation.

RESULTS

The improved method has a good separation effect on nine kinds of HAs. The average recovery of HAs at two spiked levels is between 51.70% and 88.25% (n = 6). The detection limit is 0.025-0.060 ng g^-1 , and the limit of quantitation is 0.070-0.160 ng g^-1 . Only harman and norharman were detected in samples. Cooking time and cooking temperature will affect the quality and HA content of samples. When the braised sauce beef soup was cooked 20 times, the HA content was the highest - as high as 21.43 ng g^-1 . The more times the beef was cooked repeatedly, the higher was the HA content. Under different cooking conditions, glucose has a significant effect on the formation of β-carboline.

CONCLUSION

We have established a detection method for HAs with good repeatability and accuracy. HAs were more easily formed in braised sauce beef by high temperature, long heating and repeated brine cooking. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Formation and Prediction of PhIP, Harman, and Norharman in Chemical Model Systems Containing Epicatechin under Various Reaction Conditions

The aim of this study was to investigate the formation rules of 1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]-pyridine (PhIP), 1-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]-indole (Harman), and 9H-pyrido[3,4-b]-indole (Norharman) in chemical model systems containing epicatechin under various reaction conditions and establish their prediction models. The results indicated that at 100-200 °C and pH 5.5-7.5 for 10-90 min, epicatechin inhibited the formation of PhIP, Harman, and Norharman by 32-100, 1-93, and 5-98%, respectively. The exponential growth equation in the growth model with R² of 0.986-0.997, the second-order equation in the polynomial model with R² of 0.900-0.949, and the trigonometric function equation in the Fourier model with R² of 0.513-0.926 were well fitted for the formation of PhIP, Harman, and Norharman at various temperatures, times, and pHs, respectively. The calibration set (R²c) and the prediction set (R²p) of the optimal partial least squares regression prediction model was 0.74 and 0.70 for PhIP, 0.75 and 0.70 for Harman, and 0.90 and 0.91 for Norharman, respectively. The results provide theoretical support to develop technologies or equipment for the real-time synchronous monitoring of PhIP, Harman, and Norharman during meat processing.

Heterocyclic amines in cooked meat products, shortcomings during evaluation, factors influencing formation, risk assessment and mitigation strategies

At this point in time, the evidence of a link between well-done meat intake and the incidence of cancer is stronger than it was 20 years ago. Several cohort and case-control studies have confirmed this evidence, and have shown a higher odd ratio and increased exposure to heterocyclic amines (HCAs) among those who frequently consume red meat. However, in most epidemiological studies, dietary assessment, combined with analytical data, is used to estimate the intake of HCAs, which has many inconsistencies. In addition, there is a lack of findings indicating a substantial correlation between various factors, like types of raw meat, types of meat products, and cooking methods that directly or indirectly influence the occurrence of cancer. Although numerous mitigation strategies have been developed to reduce HCAs levels in meat, there is still a high prevalence of carcinogenesis caused by HCAs in humans. The aim of this review is to summarise conflicting reports, address shortcomings and identify emerging trends of cutting-edge research related to HCAs.

Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines in Meat: Formation, Isolation, Risk Assessment, and Inhibitory Effect of Plant Extracts

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are potent carcinogenic compounds induced by the Maillard reaction in well-done cooked meats. Free amino acids, protein, creatinine, reducing sugars and nucleosides are major precursors involved in the production of polar and non-polar HAAs. The variety and yield of HAAs are linked with various factors such as meat type, heating time and temperature, cooking method and equipment, fresh meat storage time, raw material and additives, precursor’s presence, water activity, and pH level. For the isolation and identification of HAAs, advanced chromatography and spectroscopy techniques have been employed. These potent mutagens are the etiology of several types of human cancers at the ng/g level and are 100- to 2000-fold stronger than that of aflatoxins and benzopyrene, respectively. This review summarizes previous studies on the formation and types of potent mutagenic and/or carcinogenic HAAs in cooked meats. Furthermore, occurrence, risk assessment, and factors affecting HAA formation are discussed in detail. Additionally, sample extraction procedure and quantification techniques to determine these compounds are analyzed and described. Finally, an overview is presented on the promising strategy to mitigate the risk of HAAs by natural compounds and the effect of plant extracts containing antioxidants to reduce or inhibit the formation of these carcinogenic substances in cooked meats.

An integrated method for monitoring thermal processing temperature of pork based on Q-Exactive mass spectrometry and chemometrics

Meat heating endpoint temperature (EPT) is an important indicator to ensure the safety of cooked meat. Accurately determining the EPT of cooked meat and ready-to-eat meat products is an important strategy to ensure food safety. In this study, a comprehensive metabolic method based on UPLC-Q Exactive and chemometrics was developed to study the metabolites differences among pork roasted at different temperatures in order to select markers indicating EPT and discover new toxic heat-induced compounds. A two-step extraction method was applied to avoid the loss of metabolite information caused by sample preparation. Using chemometrics, the five compounds of creatine, creatinine, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo (4,5-b) pyridine (PhIP), 2-methyl-6-amino-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine (TMP) and compound with the m/z of 114.04316 were selected as markers, and four of them were further confirmed by chemical standards. It is worth noting that TMP was discovered in roasted pork for the first time. In addition, targeting studies aimed at quantifying the selected markers were conducted at different thermal processing temperatures. From the quantification results, it can be concluded that the heat temperature not exceed 180 °C is recommended to reduce the content of toxic compounds. This study has proved that the integration of UPLC-Q Exactive and chemometrics could provide an efficient method for the study of markers related to thermal process and new toxic heat-induced compounds.

Shrimp as a substantial source of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines

In the present work, fifteen mutagenic/carcinogenic heterocyclicamines (HAs)were studied in cooked Caridean shrimp (pink) and Penaeid shrimp (tiger, white and brown). The cooking methods were used as stir-frying, broiling and steaming under controlled temperature and time, and HAs determination was performed by SPE/UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. HAs 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), 2-Amino-1,6-dimethyl-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (DMIP), 1-Methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole (Harman) and 9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole (Norharman) were identified (0.05-22.48 ng/g) in all stir-fried and broiled shrimp, whereas 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) was only found (0.08-0.35 ng/g) in stir-fried shrimp. HAs 2-Amino-3,7,8-trimethyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (7,8-DiMeIQx) and, α-carbolines 2-Amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AαC) and 2-Amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (MeAαC), γ-carbolines 3-Amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and 3-Amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2) and δ-carbolines 2-Amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-α:3́,2́-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1) and 2-Aminodipyrido[1,2-α:3́,2́-d]imidazole (Glu-P-2) were not detected or found below quantification limit. Brown shrimp (stir-fried) appeared to be more contaminated which constitutes total HAs (81.93 ng/g) followed by pink (70.41 ng/g), tiger (53.02 ng/g) and white (33.57 ng/g). Steaming method does not yield any HAs, and the cause might be elucidate that shrimp were not directly in contact with cooking pan or fire which affect the HAs formation. Food precursors (protein, moisture, fat, creatine and glucose) were also measured in raw and cooked shrimp to investigate the influence on HAs formation. Creatine (3.85 mg/g) and glucose (0.43 mg/g) were found at higher concentrations in brown shrimp, generates high amounts of HAs. Our findings have illustrated that the cooking method, shrimp types and precursors are the main contributors to the formation of HAs. The outcomes from this work could be applied to estimate the HAs human intake globally and add to steaming cooking method in such types of food products that diminish the risk of HAs exposure, and thus to get healthier food quality and security.

Dynamic changes in the qualities and heterocyclic aromatic amines of roasted pork induced by frying temperature and time

The effects of different frying temperatures (150, 175, 200, 225 and 250 °C) and times (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 min) on yield, shear force, color and sensory characteristics, and heterocyclic aromatic amine (HAA) contents of roasted pork were investigated. The results showed significant decreases in yield, shear force and L* and increases in a*, b* and the amounts of HAA of roasted pork with increased frying temperature and time (P < 0.05). The highest score of overall acceptability in crispy and darker roast pork fried at 225 °C for 1 min was obtained. However, the principal component analysis demonstrated that higher HAA contents of roasted pork under high frying temperature (225-250 °C) and long frying time (2-2.5 min) occurred. Considering the various qualities and the amounts of HAA, frying roasted pork at 175 °C for 1.5-2 min was the most suitable condition for preparing roasted pork.

An accurate, rapid, and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of four typical heterocyclic amines in roasted pork patties: Application in the study of inhibitory effects of astaxanthin

Heterocyclic aromatic amines, as a group of mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds, have gained worldwide concern. In this study, an accurate, rapid, and sensitive confirmation and quantification method of four major heterocyclic aromatic amines in roasted pork was developed based on Q-Orbitrap along with Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe extraction. The limit of detections and limit of quantitations were found to be 0.2-1.2 μg/kg and 0.6-3.5 μg/kg, respectively, revealing the high sensitivity of this method. Obtained results showed recoveries ranging from 78.1 to 97.4%, depending on the different heterocyclic aromatic amines and spiked levels. Precision was in the range of 2.6-4.5% for four heterocyclic aromatic amines at different levels. In addition, the developed method had been applied to investigate the inhibitory effects of astaxanthin on the above-mentioned heterocyclic aromatic amines in roasted pork. The amount of astaxanthin with the best inhibitory effects was 7.5 mg (0.0375%), which led to significant reduction in heterocyclic aromatic amines levels over 50%.

Preparation of a Broad-Spectrum Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines (HAAs) Antibody and Its Application in Detection of Eight HAAs in Heat Processed Meat

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are potential human mutagens and carcinogens mainly generated in heat-treated meat. In this work, a broad-spectrum HAAs antibody was prepared and used to develop an indirect competitive ELISA (ic-ELISA) for simultaneous determination of eight HAAs, including 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoline (MeIQ), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (IQx), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx), 2-amino-3,7,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (7,8-DiMeIQx), 2-amino-3,4,7,8-tetramethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,7,8-TriMeIQx), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in grilled and fried meat samples. The limit of detection (LOD, calculated as IC₁₀) and 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of ic-ELISA were 5.29 μg/L and 99.08 μg/L, respectively. The detection results of this ic-ELISA were in good agreement with the detection results of UPLC-MS/MS in real samples, which indicated that this ic-ELISA can be applied to detect the total content of eight HAAs in heat processed meat. Use of a broad-spectrum antibody is an efficient strategy in developing immunoassay for simultaneous measuring food risk factors with similar structure.

Accumulation of heterocyclic amines across low-temperature sausage processing stages as revealed by UPLC-MS/MS

The accumulation of heterocyclic amines (HAs) in low-temperature sausages in each processing stage was investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The maximum total levels for free HAs, protein-bound HAs, and all HAs were respectively 1.91 ng/g, 162.91 ng/g and 164.82 ng/g. Harman, norharman, Glu-P-1, and PhIP accumulated from raw sausages and reached maximum of 50.88 ng/g, 84.59 ng/g, 9.60 ng/g, and 4.69 ng/g after steaming. The highest level of IQ[4,5-b] was 0.36 ng/g found in raw sausages. AαC, MeAαC, DMIP, and 1,5,6-TMIP were all produced after drying and reached maximum after steaming: 3.25 ng/g, 6.52 ng/g, 0.15 ng/g, and 2.78 ng/g. Additionally, Phe-P-1 reached a maximum of only 0.02 ng/g after drying. MeIQ was generated only after steaming, reaching a maximum of 2.11 ng/g. These results may provide some basis for the inhibition of HAs in meat products through target processing stages.

The Inhibitory Effects of Heterotrigona Itama Honey Marinades on the Formation of Carcinogenic Heterocyclic Amines in Grilled Beef Satay

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are carcinogenic food toxicants formed in cooked meats, which may increase the risk of cancer development in humans. Therefore, in this study, the effect of stingless bee honey from different botanical origins on the formation of HCAs in grilled beef satay was investigated. HCAs concentration in grilled beef satay was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In total, six of the most toxigenic HCAs representing aminoimidazo-azaarenes (AIAs) (MeIQx, 4,8-DiMeIQx, and PhIP) and amino carbolines (norharman, harman, and AαC) groups were identified in all the beef samples investigated. A significant reduction in HCAs was observed in grilled beef marinated in honey as compared to beef samples marinated in table sugar (control), in which the reduction of 95.14%, 88.45%, 85.65%, and 57.22% was observed in gelam, starfruit, acacia, and Apis honey marinades, respectively. According to the partial least squares regression (PLS) model, the inhibition of HCAs in grilled beef was shown to be significantly correlated to the antioxidant activity (IC50) of the honey samples. Therefore, the results of this study revealed that the addition of stingless bee honey could play an important role in reducing HCAs in grilled beef.

Structure characteristics of flavonoids for heterocyclic aromatic amines inhibition using quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling

The objective of this study was to investigate the structure characteristics of flavonoids that act as inhibitors for heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) formation. Five quantitative structure-activity relationship models for predicting the inhibitory rates of HAAs (norharman, harman, PhIP, MeIQx, and 4,8-DiMeIQx) were established using selected chemometric parameters (R² : 0.591-0.920), and indicated that the hydrophobicity, hydroxyl groups, and topological structure of flavonoids played important roles in the inhibition of HAAs formation. The 5,7-dihydroxyls in meta-position of the A-ring and the 4'-hydroxyl in the B-ring of flavonoids were critical for the inhibitory effects of HAAs, whereas the introduction of 3-hydroxyl and 3-O-glucoside in the C-ring reduced the inhibitory effects. Catechin served as the most effective inhibitor of HAAs followed by luteolin and genistein. The study can bring us a broader idea for controlling the formation of HAAs according to the structure of flavonoids. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are a class of organic substances with carcinogenic and mutagenic effect formed during the heating process of meat products. The formation of HAAs can be inhibited by adding natural antioxidants such as flavonoids to the meat during pretreatment. This inhibition is influenced by the unique structure of flavonoids. Thus, there has been an increasing demand to exploit the effective HAAs inhibitors from flavonoids by structure characteristics. Our study showed that the inhibitory effect of flavonoids on the formation of HAAs was mainly depended on their hydrophobicity, hydroxyl groups, and topological structure using the multiple QSAR models. Thus, effective HAAs inhibitors can be explored from dietary flavonoids according their structure characteristics.

Identification of Precursors and Formation Pathway for the Heterocyclic Aromatic Amine 2-Amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (IQ)

Food processing is responsible for the destruction of some health hazards, but it is responsible for the formation of new ones. Among them, the formation of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) has received a considerable attention because of their carcinogenicity. In spite of this, HAA formation is still poorly understood. This study was undertaken to identify precursors and formation pathways for 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (IQ). IQ was produced by reaction of acrolein, crotonaldehyde, creatinine, and ammonia. Reaction conditions were studied, and its activation energy (E_a) was determined to be 77.0 ± 1.3 kJ/mol. IQ formation was always accompanied by the formation of the HAA 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (MeIQ), which was produced with an E_a of 72.2 ± 0.4 kJ/mol. A reaction pathway for the competitive formation of IQ and MeIQ is proposed. Obtained results demonstrate the significant role of reactive carbonyls (the food carbonylome) in HAA formation and provide evidences for designing HAA mitigation strategies.

Chemical food contaminants during food processing: sources and control

With the development in international food trade, there has been emerging risks in the food chain. Food contamination can be caused by several factors in a complex food chain. This articles provides a comprehensive review of known chemical contaminants from the production of raw materials to the consumption of food products as well as prevention and control measures. Specifically, this review discusses the following topics, raw material contamination caused by environmental pollution, endogenous food contamination caused by processing methods, and cold chain system challenges in food e-commerce.

Heterocyclic amines in braised chicken may mainly infiltrate from reused marinade during braising, instead of thermic generation

BACKGROUND

Sauce braised meat products are popular in Asia, although their complicated processing may lead to potential safety risks. Especially, how hazardous compounds are formed during their preparation is still unclear. In the present study, braised chicken breasts, which are a typical Chinese sauce braised meat product, were used to investigate the formation of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) during heat treatment.

RESULTS

Precursor content (creatine and reducing sugar), HCA level and temperature were measured in different parts of the chicken breast at each processing stage. The results obtained showed that the increasing trends of total HCA content in different parts of chicken breast were not the same. Only total HCA content in the skin (4.93 ± 0.80 ng g^-1 ) increased significantly after deep-frying. During braising, total HCA level in the skin was high (12.1-14.3 ng g^-1 ) and relatively stable. However, total HCA content in pectoralis major muscle (3.90-7.40 ng g^-1 ) and pectoralis minor muscle (1.44-5.31 ng g^-1 ) was much lower than in the skin, and increased steadily with braising time.

CONCLUSION

Braising is the main factor which affects HCA level in braised chicken. Combining the results of temperature and precursor content, a possible explanation for the large amount of HCAs in braised chicken is the gradual infiltration from reused marinade, instead of thermic generation. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dietary creatine intake and depression risk among U.S. adults

Creatine monohydrate is actively being researched for its antidepressant effects, yet little is known about the link between dietary creatine and depression risk. This study examines the association between dietary creatine and depression in U.S. adults, using data from the 2005 to 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Patient health questionnaire, dietary creatine intake and covariates were obtained on 22,692 NHANES participants ≥20 years of age. Depression prevalence was calculated within quartiles of dietary creatine intake. Adjusted logistic regression models were formulated to determine the relationship between dietary creatine intake and depression risk. Additional covariates included income to poverty ratio, race/ethnicity, sex, age, education level, body mass index, healthcare access, smoking status, physical activity, and antidepressant/anxiolytic medication use. Models were further stratified by sex, age group, and antidepressant/anxiolytic medication use. Depression prevalence was 10.23/100 persons (95% CI: 8.64-11.83) among NHANES participants in the lowest quartile of dietary creatine intake compared with 5.98/100 persons (95% CI: 4.97-6.98) among participants in the highest quartile (p < 0.001). An inverse association was measured between dietary creatine and depression (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52-0.88). Dietary creatine's negative association with depression was strongest in females (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.40-0.98), participants aged 20-39 years (AOR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.34-0.79) and participants not taking antidepressant/anxiolytic medication (AOR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.43-0.77). Study results indicate a significant negative relationship between dietary creatine and depression in a nationally representative adult cohort. Further research is warranted to investigate the role creatine plays in depression, particularly among women and across the lifespan.

Effect of Creatine and Glucose on Formation of Heterocyclic Amines in Grilled Chicken Breasts

The occurrence of heterocyclic amines (HAs) in grilled chicken breasts was investigated. All samples contained HAs, including MeIQx, PhIP, and the β-carbolines harman and norharman. In particular, PhIP was found in concentrations of 1.5-9.1 ng/g, and MeIQx was detected at very low concentrations (n.d.-1.1 ng/g). The concentrations of two co-mutagenic β-carbolines, harman and norharman, ranged from 0.8 to 2.3 ng/g when the content of the precursor glucose was varied from 100 to 620 mg/kg. In contrast, the content of the precursor creatine in non-grilled chicken breasts varied by only 8.6%. A significant linear correlation existed between the molar concentration of PhIP and the molar ratio of creatine/glucose (r = 0.88, p < 0.001). We, thus, conclude that the formation of PhIP may be inhibited with increasing concentrations of glucose in chicken breast. Chicken patties coated with ribose or glucose-containing water in oil emulsions confirmed that both reducing sugars decreased PhIP formation with the preferred concentrations (sensory analysis) of 0.5-1% for ribose and 1% for glucose leading to a reduction of PhIP formation by 28-34% and 39%, respectively.

Phytochemical-Rich Antioxidant Extracts of Vaccinium Vitis-idaea L. Leaves Inhibit the Formation of Toxic Maillard Reaction Products in Food Models

Thermal treatment of proteinaceous foods generates heat-induced Maillard reaction substances including toxic advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and heterocyclic amines (HAs). It is known that plant phenolic compounds may influence Maillard reaction. This study investigated the impact of lingonberry leaf extracts on the formation of N^ε -(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and N^ε -(2-furoylmethyl)-L-lysine (furosine) in milk model system and HAs in meat-protein and meat model systems. In addition, lingonberry leaf extracts obtained by different solvents were characterized by radical scavenging, Folin-Ciocalteu assays and ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography quadruple-time-of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-qTOF-MS). Water extract (WE) stronger suppressed CML than furosine formation in milk model system: CML levels were reduced by nearly 40%. Moreover, quinic acid and catechin, which were abundant in WE, were effective in inhibiting CML and furosine formation. WE and acetone extract (AE) at 10 mg/mL significantly inhibited HAs formation in both model systems. However, higher suppressing effect on HAs formation showed AE, which had lower antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content values than WE. WE contained higher amounts of hydroxycinnamic acids, proanthocyanidins and flavonols, while AE was richer in flavan-3-ols and arbutin derivatives. It indicates that the composition of phenolics might be a major factor for explaining different effect of extracts from the same plant on HAs formation. In general, the results suggest that lingonberry leaves is a promising source of phytochemicals for inhibiting toxic Maillard reaction products and enriching foods with plant bioactive compounds. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The increased consumption in processed foods has been linked with the increased risks of various diseases, while thermal food processing is required to develop flavor, insure safety, and extend shelf life. Therefore, developing effective technological means for inhibiting the formation of heat-induced toxic substances is an important task. This study showed a potential of lingonberry leaf extracts containing health beneficial phytochemicals to suppress the formation of toxic Maillard reaction products during heating of milk and meat.

Occurrence of Heterocyclic Amines in Commercial Fast-Food Meat Products Available on the Chinese Market and Assessment of Human Exposure to these Compounds

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) have been identified as highly mutagenic and are risk factors for human cancer. In recent years, the intake of fast-food meat products has increased exponentially due to their convenience. Therefore, it is important to assess the health risks of HCAs and provide useful public dietary guidelines. Eight fast-food meat products were selected from the Chinese market, including chicken, beef, and fish, to evaluate their health risk in conjunction with HCAs. Crispy chicken drumsticks contained the maximum level of total HCAs (24.18 ± 3.57 ng/g), followed by crispy fried chicken burgers (19.99 ± 1.41 ng/g) and traditional Chinese nuggets (19.17 ± 1.23 ng/g), whereas shrimp cake burgers had the lowest levels (13.17 ± 1.77 ng/g). Crispy chicken drumsticks (men: 169.12 ng/day, women: 108.70 ng/day), hot chicken wings (men: 126.32 ng/day, women: 142.11 ng/day), and crispy fried chicken burgers (men: 129.78 ng/day, women: 59.91 ng/day) were found to provide the highest dietary intake of HCAs in both genders, which may lead to an increase in colorectal and breast cancers. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The rapid expansion of the Chinese fast-food industry has promoted serious health problems, such as colorectal cancer and some cardiovascular diseases. Several epidemiological studies revealed that a high intake of processed meats may increase the risk of cancer in humans because cooking food proteins, such as meat, at high temperatures could produce high levels of carcinogenic compounds, such as HCAs. Because of the vast variation in eating habits, preparation methods and the frequency of meat consumption, it is important to evaluate the accurate level of HCAs in commercially available fast-food meat products with the aim to clarify the association between processed meats and the health risk.

Dual Effects of Creatinine on the Formation of 2-Amino-1-Methyl-6-Phenylimidazo [4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)

Creatinine was found to not only act as a precursor of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) formation but also inhibit PhIP formation in a creatinine/phenylalanine model system. The dual mechanistic effects of creatinine on PhIP formation were then investigated in a model system. Adducts of creatinine-PhIP were detected by quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and were found to be a likely explanation for the substantial decrease in the yield of PhIP when excess creatinine was supplied. Structures of probable adducts were predicted in molecular docking studies, which showed that hydrogen bonds were formed between creatinine and PhIP in 1:1 and 2:1 ratios. Furthermore, the active sites during creatinine-PhIP adduct formation (the primary amino groups [N² -] and sp² nitrogen atoms [N³ ] of creatinine and PhIP) match the active sites of PhIP metabolism and adducts of PhIP/lipid-derived reactive carbonyls. This verifies that creatinine inhibits PhIP production via the formation of adducts with hydrogen bonds at the N² and N³ sites.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

This study enhances the understanding of how creatinine affects PhIP formation, reveals a new PhIP inhibition mechanism, and will be useful for developing technology to control PhIP formation during food processing.