Water content, critical micelle concentration of phospholipids and formation of association colloids as factors influencing autoxidation of rapeseed oil

BACKGROUND

The exact mechanism of lipid autoxidation in vegetable oils, taking into account physical aspects of this phenomenon, including the role of association colloids, is still not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to consider changes in moisture content and DOPC phospholipid (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) critical micelle concentration (CMC) in rapeseed oil during autoxidation as well as to find the relationship between these parameters and the accumulation of primary and secondary lipid oxidation products.

RESULTS

The experiments were performed at initial oil humidity 220 ppm and 700 ppm, with DOPC below and above CMC. The increase in water concentration was favored by the presence of phospholipids above CMC and, at the same time, high initial water level, which favored oxidation processes and the creation of amphiphilic autoxidation products. At relatively high water level and low amphiphilic DOPC concentration, the growth of water content does not affect the concentration of oxidation products.

CONCLUSION

Amphiphilic substances play a significant role in increasing the water content of oil. Autoxidation products may reduce CMC of DOPC, but water is able to compensate for the CMC-reducing effect of oxidation products. The presence of association colloids and initial water content play a crucial role in the oxidation process of rapeseed oil. The increase in water concentration does not cause a sufficiently large increase in the number of micelles or sufficiently significant changes in their structure to effect an increase in the level of oxidation products. The formation of micelles requires an appropriate content of both water and amphiphilic substances derived from seeds (phospholipids). © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

What makes good antioxidants in lipid-based systems? The next theories beyond the polar paradox

The polar paradox states that polar antioxidants are more active in bulk lipids than their nonpolar counterparts, whereas nonpolar antioxidants are more effective in oil-in-water emulsion than their polar homologs. However, recent results, showing that not all antioxidants behave in a manner proposed by this hypothesis in oil and emulsion, lead us to revisit the polar paradox and to put forward new concepts, hypotheses, and theories. In bulk oil, new evidences have been brought to demonstrate that the crucial site of oxidation is not the air-oil interface, as postulated by the polar paradox, but association colloids formed with traces of water and surface active molecules such as phospholipids. The role of these association colloids on lipid oxidation and its inhibition by antioxidant is also addressed as well as the complex influence of the hydrophobicity on the ability of antioxidants to protect lipids from oxidation. In oil-in water emulsion, we have covered the recently discovered non linear (or cut-off) influence of the hydrophobicity on antioxidant capacity. For the first time, different mechanisms of action are formulated in details to try to account for this nonlinear effect. As suggested by the great amount of biological studies showing a cut-off effect, this phenomenon could be widespread in dispersed lipid systems including emulsions and liposomes as well as in living systems such as cultured cells. Works on the cut-off effect paves the way for the determination of the critical chain length which corresponds to the threshold beyond which antioxidant capacity suddenly collapses. The systematic search for this new physico-chemical parameter will allow designing novel phenolipids and other amphiphilic antioxidants in a rational fashion. Finally, in both bulk oils and emulsions, we feel that it is now time for a paradigm shift from the polar paradox to the next theories.

Impact of Association Colloids on Lipid Oxidation in Triacylglycerols and Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters

The impact of association colloids on lipid oxidation in triacylglycerols and fatty acid ethyl esters was investigated. Association colloids did not affect lipid oxidation of high oleic safflower and high linoleic safflower triacylglycerols, but were prooxidative in fish triacylglycerols. Association colloids retarded aldehyde formation in stripped ethyl oleate, linoleate, and fish oil ethyl esters. Interfacial tension revealed that lipid hydroperoxides were surface active in the presence of the surfactants found in association colloids. The lipid hydroperoxides from ethyl esters were less surface active than triacylglycerol hydroperoxides. Stripping decreased iron and copper concentrations in all oils, but more so in fatty acid ethyl esters. The combination of lower hydroperoxide surface activity and low metal concentrations could explain why association colloids inhibited lipid oxidation in fatty acid ethyl esters. This research suggests that association colloids could be used as an antioxidant technology in fatty acid ethyl esters.