Jarosława Rutkowska

Fatty acid profile of the milk of cows reared in the mountain region of Poland

An appropriate composition of milk fatty acids (FA) improves the nutritional value of milk and milk products, and improves milk processing. Polish dairy farms in the mountainous region are rather small, animal nutrition there is based on locally produced forages and this, together with the transitional climate zone brings about seasonal changes in FA composition of milk. The aim of the study was to evaluate the composition of FA in bovine milk fat in relation to fat intake in forages and their FA profiles. The study involved 5 herds reared in low-input mountain farms located at an altitude of 670-780 m above sea level (Beskid Mountains). The cows were fed forages produced locally. FAs in forages and milk samples were subjected to gas chromatography. Highest fat intake observed in grazing season (4·2-4·7%) and high amounts of polyunsaturated FA in forages from that period (51·8-64·1 g/100 g FA) resulted in a markedly high content of valuable FAs: t-11 C18:1 (3·22 g/100 g FA), c-9, t-11 C18:2 (CLA; 1·20 g/100 g FA) in milk. Lower fat intake of forages containing high amount of SFA (32·42-38·83 g/100 g FA) in the indoor period resulted in changes in milk composition. The content of total short-chain saturated FA (SCFA) was highest in winter and early spring samples (14·10 and 13·44 g/100 g FA, respectively), like the amounts of myristic C14:0 and palmitic C16:0 acids (11·80 and 37·92 g/100 g FA). Total odd- and branched-chain fatty acids (OBCFA; 6·58 g/100 g FA) content was highest at the beginning of the grazing period. Fresh grass consumed by cows promoted the activity of Δ(9)-desaturase in mammary gland as evidenced by higher C14:1 : C14:0 (0·054) and C16:1 : C16:0 (0·026) ratios in grazing than in the indoor periods.

Differentiation of geographical origin of cream products in Poland according to their fatty acid profile

Fatty acid (FA) composition of bovine milk fat from cream samples, originating from three regions of Poland (one mountainous and two lowland ones) and collected within 2 years, was analysed aiming at identifying the region of production by applying principal component analysis (PCA). From the 44 FAs identified by gas chromatography, two groups were discerned: seasonally variable (n=17) and non-seasonal (n=7). The biplots showed that different FAs could serve as markers of geographical origin of cream samples. The CLA, vaccenic acid, C18:39c12c15c, total C18:1 trans and C18:39c12c15c n-6 (GLA) were found indicative of mountainous regions, and the short-chain saturated FAs (SCFA; C4:0-C11:0) - of the lowland ones. The Opole province was characterised by a high content of linoleic acid. It was concluded that the origin of a cream sample could be fairly well identified by gas chromatography combined with chemometric analysis of milk fat FAs.

Partial replacement of wheat flour with pumpkin seed flour in muffins offered to children

ABSTRACT Effects of partial replacement of wheat flour with pumpkin seed flour on quality indices of muffins for children were studied. Fatty acid (FA) composition, peroxide value (PV), anisidine value (AnV) and conjugated diene (CD) and triene (CT) contents were assayed in lipids extracted from muffins and related to storage time. Both PV and AnV values increased with the increasing content of pumpkin seed flour. Regardless the pumpkin seed flour share, the content of CD was higher than of CT in muffins. As the replacement of wheat flour with pumpkin seed flour increased, the nutritional value of muffins improved. It appears appropriate to incorporate 33% of pumpkin seed flour into muffins stored for 2 weeks without special packaging conditions. More than 71% of the children evaluated muffins containing 33% of pumpkin seed flour as ‘tasty’ and ‘very tasty’. The experimental muffin formulation resulted in a novel product suitable for children’s nutrition.

Consumption Safety of Pastries, Confectioneries, and Potato Products as Related to Fat Content

Study aim: To determine the content of the main groups of fatty acids in pastries, confectionery, and potato products, paying special attention to trans fatty acids and the products of fat oxidation and hydrolysis, as factors affecting the safety of consumption. Methods: A total of 157 products were collected in Poland in 2009–2010. In fats extracted from samples, products of oxidation and hydrolysis were assayed using peroxide (PV), anisidine (AnV), and acid (AV) values. The fatty acid (FA) composition, especially the trans FAs (TFAs) content, was determined by gas chromatography. When assessing the TFA intake, Household Budget Surveys were considered. Results: Highest content of fat was found for wafers with filling and crisps (32.3% and 29.3%, respectively). In 4 out of 9 groups of pastry and confectionery products studied, the quality of fat was decreased due to an excessive oxidation, as evidenced by a substantial content of secondary products of fat oxidation. The extracted fat was rich in SFA (on average, 50 g SFA/100 g FA) except fries and mixes. A great diversity of TFA content in fat of the products was found (0.1–24.8 g TFA/100 g FA). Wafers were characterized by the highest average content of TFA in the group of pastries (1.94 g TFA/100 g of product). Products of natural origin supplied 0.496 g of TFA per day, and those of industrial origin supplied about 1.5 g. Conclusions: The average TFA consumption, about 2 g/day, does not seem to affect health. However, an excessive consumption of pastry and confectionery products may present a risk, due not only to TFA but also to a high consumption of toxic secondary oxidation lipid products. Moreover, because 75% of TFAs in the diet were isomers of industrial origin, their further limitation and monitoring of their level in food seems highly recommendable.

Milk of Polish Red and White cows as a source of nutritionally valuable fatty acids

Abstract. Local bovine breeds are usually more resistant to diseases and better adapted to environmental and nutritional conditions than the imported ones. The aim of this study was to assess the content of individual health-related fatty acids in milk of Polish Red and White breed regarding the composition of forages. One herd of cows (n=15) were fed seasonally using locally produced forages: grazed grass, containing high amounts (55 g·100 g-1 fatty acid on average) of polyunsaturated fatty acid, and preserved forages, rich in saturated fatty acid (30 g·100 g-1 fatty acid on average). The content of butyric acid in milk averaged 4.21 g·100 g-1 fatty acid regardless of season and was higher compared to that reported for other breeds. Milk from the summer season had high content (14.67 g·100 g-1 fatty acid) of total short-chain saturated fatty acid (C4:0-C12:0), that from non-pasture season (winter) had high content of odd- and branched chain fatty acids (6.28 g·100 g-1 fatty acid). Milk fat of studied cows had relatively lower content of nutritionally controversial myristic C14:0 and palmitic C16:0 acids as comparing to milk in other breeds and proved an excellent source of vaccenic acid trans-11 C18:1 and conjugated linoleic acids cis-9, trans-11 C18:2, especially during the grazing season.

An Improved Silver Ion HPLC Combined with Capillary Gas Chromatography of cis/trans Fatty Acids in Alimentary Fats and Human Milk Fat

A technique of analysis is described using a silver ion-loaded HPLC (Ag+/HPLC) column, gradient elution, and a laser light scattering detector followed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) for the determination of the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) composition of rapeseed oil, the respective hydrogenated fat, some dietary fats, and human milk fat. With the use of Ag+/HPLC, FAMEs were separated into the following classes: saturated, trans-monounsaturated, cis-monounsaturated, trans–trans-di-unsaturated, trans–cis-di-unsaturated, cis–cis-di-unsaturated, and higher unsaturated FAMEs. Within each class, partial separation of positional isomers was also possible. Fractions of the eluate containing trans and cis C18:1 were separately collected and re-analyzed by GC in order to quantitate the positional isomers eight trans and nine cis in rapeseed oil and in human milk fat. The profiles of eight trans positional isomers in human milk fat and in hydrogenated rapeseed oil were alike but entirely different from that of six C18:1 trans isomers in bovine milk fat. Out of nine C18:1 cis isomers found in hydrogenated fat, only C18:1-9c and C18:1-11c were found in both human and bovine milk fat which may indicate some discrimination which occurs for certain isomers in fatty acid metabolism.

Quality of Fats in Cookies as Affected by Storage and Addition of Oat Flakes

ABSTRACT Changes in fats extracted from cookies stored for three or five weeks and containing different levels of oat flakes (10, 20, 30%) were investigated. The fats used for baking differed in fatty acid (FA) composition and contained 17.6–57.6% saturated (SFA), 0.8–46.8% trans FA (TFA), and 0.6–6.6% polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). Oat flakes were steam stabilized and were in the middle of their shelf-life. Oat flakes contained 9.5% lipids in which linoleic acid (C 18:2 9c 12c) predominated, amounting to 42.7%. Increasing the content of oat flakes and the storage time of cookies resulted in increased values of primary and secondary fat oxidation products. Highest increases in PV values were found in cookies stored for three or five weeks, especially with a high content of oat flakes (30%). Secondary lipid oxidation products measured by AnV values increased with the time of storage. Highest increases in hydrolytic and oxidation products were associated with higher content (6.6%) of PUFA in utilized fats. Rega...

[The importance of γ-linolenic acid in the prevention and treatment].

The etiology of diet-related disorders is closely associated with dietary factors. A special role is attributed to intake of fat and fatty acid profile, both quantitative and qualitative. For prevention and treatment of the abovementioned diseases a proper supply of unsaturated fatty acids plays a significant role, because of their particular importance to health. γ-Linolenic acid (GLA), with three double bonds in the carbon chain, also known as all-cis 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid, belongs to the n-6 family of fatty acids. It plays biologically important functions in the human body, such as being a substrate for eicosanoids synthesis, involvement in the transport and oxidation of cholesterol, and being one of the components of lipid membrane. Its inadequate dietary intake or impaired formation is the cause of many inflammatory and degenerative diseases. A rich source of this fatty acid is vegetable oils, until recently used mainly in folk medicine. Nowadays, studies conducted both in animal models and in humans suggest its health-promoting properties in the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and rheumatoid arthritis.

Effects of replacing extracted soybean meal with rapeseed cake in corn grass silage-based diet for dairy cows.

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of partial replacement of soybean meal with a protein-equivalent amount of rapeseed cake in the diet on milking parameters and fatty acid (FA) composition of milk in dairy cows. Two groups of Holstein-Friesian cows, 8 each, consisting of randomised blocks were studied: a control group (C) was given a traditional high-protein supplement (extracted soybean meal) and the experimental group (E), had part of extracted soybean meal replaced with rapeseed cake. Dry matter intake and milk yield in both groups were not affected by the diet but milk fat percentage and yield were decreased in both groups. Rapeseed cake had no effect on milk acidity or on protein (including casein) and lactose contents. A lower concentration of urea in milk in E group indicated a proper ratio of protein to energy in the fodder. Health condition of mammary gland and indicators of metabolic profile were not affected by rapeseed cake supplementation. In E group, the share of atherogenic saturated fatty acids (FA) was reduced after 11 weeks: palmitic, by 26% and myristic, by 22%; moreover, as compared with control cows, the content of monounsaturated FA in milk increased by 44% after 3 weeks and by 68% after 11 weeks, t-18:1 and c-9 t-11 isomer of CLA increased about 2.5-fold after 11 weeks. In E group, the atherogenic index (AI) was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than in C (by 54% on average) and the decrease with time was considerable (by 29%, P < 0.001). Contents of odd- and branched- chain FA in milk were not significantly affected thus reflecting proper rumen function. Partial replacement of soybean meal with rapeseed cake in the diet of cows may improve both milking indices and FA profile of milk.

[Odd- and branched-chain fatty acids in milk fat--characteristic and health properties].

This review analyzes the current state of knowledge on odd- and branched-chain fatty acids present in milk fat. Special attention is devoted to the characteristic, synthesis in ruminants, factors affecting their content in milk fat and pro-health properties of these compounds. The group of odd- and branched-chain fatty acids includes mainly saturated fatty acids with one or more methyl branches in the iso or anteiso position. These fatty acids are largely derived from ruminal bacteria and they have been transferred to ruminant tissue (milk and meat). For that reason they have been used as biomarkers of rumen fermentation. Odd- and branched-chain fatty acids are exogenous products for humans, and therefore have specific properties. The results of research from recent decades show that odd- and branched-chain fatty acids have anti-cancer activity. Branched-chain fatty acids may reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis. Additionally, these compounds have a beneficial effect on proper tissue function and on functioning and development of the infant gut, whereas odd-chain fatty acids are considered as biomarkers of milk fat intake by humans. So far, not all the mechanisms of activity of these compounds are known thoroughly. They should be more carefully studied for application of their biological effects in prevention and treatment.