Enrichment of Brain n-3 Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA) and Retinal n-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) in Lambs Fed Nannochloropsis oceanica Microalga

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have special physiological functions in both brain and retinal tissues that are related to the modulation of inflammatory processes and direct effects on neuronal membrane fluidity, impacting mental and visual health. Among them, the long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFAs, as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are of special importance. Scarce data are available about the fatty acid (FA) composition of the ruminant brain in response to dietary intervention. However, we decided to examine the brain and retina FA composition of lambs supplemented with an EPA-rich microalga feed for 21 days, as it is known that despite the extensive biohydrogenation of dietary PUFAs in the rumen, ruminants can selectively accumulate some n-3 LC-PUFAs in their brain and retinal tissues. Twenty-eight male lambs were fed a control diet, or the same diet further supplemented with Nannochloropsis sp. microalga. Their brains and retina were collected for FA characterization. Overall, the brain FA profile remained unchanged, with little alteration in omega-3 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) enhancement in both the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Retinal tissues were particularly responsive to the dietary intervention, with a 4.5-fold enhancement of EPA in the freeze-dried-fed lambs compared with the control lambs. We conclude that retinal tissues are sensitive to short-term n-3 PUFA supplementation in lambs.

Partial substitution of fish oil for linseed oil enhances beneficial fatty acids from rumen biohydrogenation but reduces ruminal fermentation and digestibility in growing goats

This study was performed to investigate effects of partial replacement of fish oil (FO) for linseed oil (LO) on digestibility, ruminal fermentation and biohydrogenation in growing goats. Experiment 1 was carried out in four growing male goats aged 6 months in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Goats were fed a basal diet supplemented with 25 g/kg dry matter either LO alone or in combination with tuna FO. Treatments were developed by replacing FO for LO at ratios of 0, 5, 10 and 15 g/kg DM corresponding to FO-0, FO-5, FO-10 and FO-15, respectively. Experiment 2 was carried out in an in vitro incubation system including 12 fermenters with the same four treatments. Each fermenter consisted of 40 mL goat ruminal fluid, 160 mL warm buffer, 2 g mixed substrates, and 50 mg FO-0, FO-5, FO-10 or FO-15. Fish oil inclusion reduced (P < 0.05) digestibility and nitrogen retention in Experiment 1. Increasing doses of FO in the diet induced a strong drop (P < 0.001) in ruminal total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and protozoa population at 3 h post incubation, but did not affect individual VFA proportions. Substitution of FO for LO decreased mean concentrations of C18:0 (P = 0.057), c-9,c-12 C18:2 and C18:3n-3 (P < 0.001), but increased (P < 0.001) C20:5n-3 and C22:6n-3. Feeding FO-10 enhanced formation of ruminal c-9,t-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentration compared with FO-0. Overall, combined data suggest that to improve ruminal concentrations of C20:5n-3, C22:6n-3, and c-9,t-11 CLA for deposition in tissues or milk with minimal risk of affecting digestibility and ruminal fermentation, a dietary supplementation of 15 g/kg LO and 10 g/kg FO would be suitable.

Fatty Acid Composition of Meat and Edible Offal from Free-Living Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

The objective of the study was to characterize tissue-associated differences in the fatty acid composition of fat in skeletal muscles M. longissimus dorsi (loin), M. biceps femoris (hind quarter), and M. triceps brachii (shoulder), and internal organs (i.e., liver, heart, and kidney) from free-living red deer (Cervus elaphus) females (n = 11) hunted in Lithuania. Skeletal muscles were characterized by lower content of free fat compared with the offal. The highest percentage of saturated fatty acids was found in the liver fat, whereas the lowest percentage was in the heart. Red deer offal showed significantly lower and higher proportions of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to meat, respectively. Higher proportions of oleic fatty acid in the shoulder and hind quarter compared to the loin were the only significant differences between skeletal muscles. The lowest and the highest n-6 polyunsaturated/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6/n-3PUFA) ratio were found in the liver and heart, respectively. More favorable lower atherogenic index and higher hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio found in the offal showed their high nutritional value, however, higher peroxidizability index indicated higher susceptibility to lipid peroxidation compared to skeletal muscles.

Physicochemical characterization of by-products from beef cattle slaughter and economic feasibility of commercialization

The aim was to evaluate the proximate food composition, cholesterol content, coloring and economic aspects of the main nutrients present in by-products from the slaughter of cattle. The samples were collected from 14 organs, with four repetitions each, of which we conducted the analyses of moisture, crude protein, mineral matter, cholesterol and fat content. The color was measured through the coordinates L*, a*, b*. The differences between the groups of red and white viscera were evaluated by contrasts analysis. Subsequently, the data were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance, which was complemented by the principal component technique. In the analysis of contrast between red and white viscera, the results showed that the components with the highest content of total fat does not necessarily have the highest content of cholesterol and vice-versa. For minerals, the red viscera presented higher content than white viscera and, in order to analyze the protein composition, there was less variability for red viscera in relation to white viscera. In the color analysis, the values for the color readings indicated uniformity between the external and internal readings, except for the tongue. On mean, the proximate composition values for the offals are similar to the values for beef, especially regarding the red viscera.

Highly selective isomerization of cottonseed oil into conjugated linoleic acid catalyzed by multiwalled carbon nanotube supported ruthenium

Supported ruthenium (Ru) has the capacity to catalyze the conjugation of double bonds in linoleic acid (LA) into conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs). It has been reported that CLAs have shown a lot of benefits to human health. To enhance the selectivity of cottonseed oil (CSO) to CLAs, various Ru catalysts supported by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Ru/MWCNTs) were prepared using a microwave-heated ethylene glycol method. All catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The catalytic efficiency/selectivity of Ru/MWCNTs and two commercially available Ru catalysts (Ru/C and Ru/Al₂O₃) were investigated in a solvent-free system by catalyzing the isomerization of CSO. TEM analysis showed that Ru nanoparticles with average sizes of 1.0 nm to 1.8 nm were uniformly dispersed on the surface of the supports. Among the as-synthesized Ru/MWCNTs, catalyst S1 (diameter < 8 nm, length 0.5–2 μm) and catalyst S4 (diameter < 8 nm, length 10–30 μm) exhibit excellent catalytic performance for isomerization of CSO with high yield of total CLA (15.91% and 11.56%, respectively) and high turnover frequency (TOF) of 10.39 and 11.38 h⁻¹, which is much better than two typical commercial Ru catalysts (Ru/Al₂O₃ and Ru/C). It has been revealed that the average particle size and chemical state of Ru on the surface of MWCNTs have influence on the activity and selectivity of the isomerization reaction.

Ruthenium supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes is a highly efficient catalyst for the linoleic acid conjugation of cottonseed oil.

Content of nitric oxide and glycative compounds in cured meat products-Negative impact upon health

The content of nitric oxide (NO), 3-nitrotyrosine, advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) and trans fatty acids (TFAs) in 16 kinds of cured meat products was examined. Results showed that NO and 3-nitrotyrosine levels were in the range of non-detectable to 4.6 μM/mg protein, and non-detectable to 0.49 nmol/mg protein, respectively. Carboxymethyllysine could be detected in 13 kinds of cured meat products; its content was in the range of 48-306 μg/100 g meat. Pentosidine was found in 14 kinds of meat products, in the range of 109-631 μg/100 g meat. Furosine was presented in all test meat samples, in the range of 156-676 μg/100 g meat. Palmitelaidic acid was found in 3 kinds of meat product, and the content was in the range of 0.59-0.71%. Vaccenic acid was presented in 9 kinds of meat products; its content was in the range of 0.89-1.47%. Elaidic acid was detected in 5 kinds of meat products, and the content was in the range of 0.67-1.21%. Because NO, 3-nitrotyrosine and AGEs might have adverse impact upon health, people with certain healthy conditions should carefully consider the frequency and amount of consumption for these cured meat products.