Małgorzata Białek

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.

Fatty acid profile of new promising unconventional plant oils for cosmetic use

Oils have been used on the cosmetic application since antiquity. With the growing interest in cosmetic formulation of strictly natural origin there has been also an increased interest in the use of alternative oils obtained from nuts, herbs, fruit and vegetable seeds. Due to lack of good scientific reports on the cosmetic plant oils available in Poland, the aim of our research was to characterize fatty acids (FA) profile and oxidative quality of selected unconventional plant oils, which are used as cosmetics or potential cosmetic ingredients.

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.

Fatty acid composition and oxidative characteristics of novel edible oils in Poland

ABSTRACT Plant oils are sources of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) and antioxidant compounds. Herbs, spices, and fruit seeds are potential source of oils which may be used as functional food and dietary supplements. FA profile and oxidative quality of oils (n = 28) were investigated by the chromatographic and titration methods. Peroxidability index (PI) was calculated and cluster analysis was performed. Differences in FA content show which of them is responsible for clusters allotment and also for similarities within each cluster. Oils from cluster S1 were characterized by high content of C18:2 n-6, whereas oils from cluster S2 by higher content of C16:1 and C18:1 n-9. Oils from S3 cluster were distinguished by higher amount of C18:3 n-3. A total of 4 of 17 FAs detected in all samples significantly differed among clusters. Novel oils may be an interesting functional food component, but detailed analysis is needed to confirm their applicability and human health influence.

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.

[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.

Nutritional Value and Consumer Acceptance of New Cereal Bars Offered to Children

Abstract The main aim of this study was to determine consumer preferences by school-aged children and selected quality indicators of new, highly nutritive grain bars designed as a snack during school break. Consumer acceptance was evaluated by the scaling method using a five-point mimic hedonic scale. Triacylglycerols (TAG) and fatty acids (FA) composition was assayed in fats extracted from the designed bars (fresh and stored) by gas chromatography. Contents of oxidation and hydrolysis products were determined using peroxide value (PV), anisidine value (AnV), and acidic value (AV). The antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract from bars was measured by scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and Folin-Ciocalteau methods. The overall liking of bars was high (4.05 pts on average in the 5-point scale). The majority of children (71%) scored the designed bars as tasty and very tasty. The designed products contained 22.3% of fat with about 44 g/100 g FA of valuable fatty acids, e.g., short-chain saturated fatty acids (SCSFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and odd and branched chain fatty acids (OBCFA), recommended for young organisms. The content of CN52, CN54, CN50 and CN46 triacylglycerols (TAGs) (about 49 g/100 g TAG) was due to both milk and cocoa fat. Storage of bars did not influence their content of oxidation and hydrolysis products, resulting from a substantial content of total phenolics (TPC) (53.64 mg GAE/100 mL of extract) and DPPH scavenging activity at the level of 24%. The designed bars may be an interesting confectionery product for children and an alternative to snacks currently available in school shops.