Search

All over the world, birds' eggs are an important and valuable component of the human diet. This study aimed to compare the content of lipid components and their nutritional value as well as iron and zinc levels in chicken and quail eggs commonly available on the market. In egg lipids, unsaturated fatty acids were dominant, especially oleic acid, the content of which was about 40% of the total fatty acids (TFAs). Linoleic acid was the major polyunsaturated fatty acid. Compared to other products of animal origin, eggs were characterized by favorable values of lipid quality indices, especially the index of atherogenicity, thrombogenicity, and the hypocholesterolemic-to-hypercholesterolemic ratio. In the present study, no differences were found in the content of tested nutrients between eggs from different production methods (organic, free-range, barn, cages). Based on linear discriminant analysis, inter-breed differences were noticed. Cluster analysis showed that eggs enriched in n3 PUFAs (according to the producers' declarations) differed from other groups of chicken eggs. However, in eggs from one producer only, the amount of EPA and DHA exceeds 80 mg per 100 g, entitling the use of the nutrition claim on the package. Quail eggs differed from chicken eggs in FA profile and cholesterol and iron levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of fat in infant milk is determined by the fatty acid profile and selected indices describing nutritional value. The aim of this study was to analyze the fatty acid profile and lipid quality indices of infant formulas and compare these data with breast milk. The study material included seven types of cow's milk-based follow-on infant formulas and samples of mature breast milk. The determination of fatty acids was performed using the gas chromatography (GC) technique. Lipid quality indices were calculated based on the relevant equations. Infant formulas contained more medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and oleic acid. Moreover, they contained more than 30% more linoleic acid and more than twice as much α-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. In contrast, significant amounts of trans fatty acids (TFAs) were noted in breast milk, while infant formulas contained trace amounts. Infant formulas were characterized by a lower AI (Index of Atherogenicity) (0.49–0.98) and TI (Index of Thrombogenicity) (0.48–0.60) and a higher H/H (hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic) ratio (1.93–2.30) compared with breast milk (1.47, 1.60, and 1.21, respectively). The composition of infant formulas depended on the type of fat added at the production stage and differed significantly from breast milk, particularly in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipid quality indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cunninghamella genus has been utilized for the production of PUFA-rich lipids. Therefore, we investigate the impact of plant oil supplementation in the culture medium (soybean oil, rice bran oil, and perilla oil), selected based on their different fatty acid predominant, on lipid production and fatty acid composition in C. elegans (TISTR 3370). All oils significantly boosted fungal growth, each influencing distinct patterns of lipid accumulation within the cells. The cells exhibited distinct patterns of lipid accumulation, forming intracellular lipid bodies, influenced by the different oils. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were found to be the most abundant, followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in the fungal lipid cultures. Oleic acid was identified as the primary MUFA, while palmitic acid was the predominant SFA in perilla oil supplements. Remarkably, perilla oil supplement provided the highest total lipid production with arachidonic acid being exclusively detected. The percentage of PUFAs ranged from 12% in the control to 33% in soybean oil, 32% in rice bran oil, and 61% in perilla oil supplements. These findings offer valuable opportunities for advancing biotechnological applications in lipid production and customization, with implications for food and nutrition as well as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducted a comparative analysis of fatty acids (FAs) concentration derived from polar (PL) and non-polar (NPL) lipids in the liver and muscle tissues of rats and mice. The objective was to elucidate species-specific differences in tissue FA distribution. Employing targeted GC/MS-based methodology, the study aimed to provide insights into conserved and species-specific aspects of lipid metabolism, thereby enhancing future experimental design, linked with comprehension of the interactions between diet, metabolism, and health. Results revealed markedly higher levels of total fatty acids (TFAs) derived from PL in mice skeletal muscle compared to rats and elevated saturated fatty acids (SFAs) levels in mice. Unsaturated fatty acid levels, mainly monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), were substantially higher in mice muscle across all lipid classes, resulting in a higher PUFA/TFA ratio in mice muscle. Detailed analysis of specific unsaturated fatty acids (C16:1, C18:1n9c, C18:2n6c, C22:6n3) indicated elevated levels in mice relative to rats. Conversely, rats exhibited higher SFA levels derived from the NPL fraction in the liver, particularly in myristic (C14:0), stearic (C18:0), and tricosanoic (C23:0) acids. Mice liver PL fractions displayed significantly elevated unsaturated FA levels, with notably higher MUFAs and lower PUFAs in NPL fractions compared to rats. Analysis of specific unsaturated FAs revealed higher levels of palmitoleic acid (C16:1) in mice, while rats exhibited increased linoleic (C18:2n6c) and linolenic (C18:3n3) acids. In conclusion, significant differences in FAs tissue distribution between rats and mice underscore the importance of considering species-specific FAs variations when utilizing these animal models and interpreting experimental results related to FA metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae can convert carbon dioxide into organic matter through photosynthesis. Thus, they are considered as an environment-friendly and efficient cell chassis for biologically active metabolites. Microalgal lipids are a class of organic compounds that can be used as raw materials for food, feed, cosmetics, healthcare products, bioenergy, etc., with tremendous potential for commercialization. In this review, we summarized the commercial lipid products from eukaryotic microalgae, and updated the mechanisms of lipid synthesis in microalgae. Moreover, we reviewed the enhancement of lipids, triglycerides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, pigments, and terpenes in microalgae via environmental induction and/or metabolic engineering in the past five years. Collectively, we provided a comprehensive overview of the products, biosynthesis, induced strategies and genetic engineering in microalgal lipids. Meanwhile, the outlook has been presented for the development of microalgal lipids industries, emphasizing the significance of the accurate analysis of lipid bioactivity, as well as the high-throughput screening of microalgae with specific lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acids play a crucial role in obesity development and in the comorbidities of obesity in both adults and children. This study aimed to assess the impact of circulating fatty acids on biomarkers of metabolic health of adolescents living with obesity. Parameters such as blood lipids, redox status, and leukocyte telomere length (rLTL) were measured alongside the proportions of individual fatty acids. The Mann–Whitney U test revealed that individuals with obesity exhibited an unfavorable lipid and redox status compared to the control normal weight group. The group with obesity also had lower plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and a higher ratio of n-6 to n-3 PUFAs than the control group. They also had a shorter rLTL, indicating accelerated biological aging. There was an inverse association of rLTL and plasma n-6-to-n-3 PUFA ratio. Future studies should explore the impact of recommended nutrition plans and increased physical activity on these parameters to determine if these interventions can enhance the health and well-being of adolescents with obesity, knowing that early obesity can track into adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are a large group of natural compounds, together with proteins and carbohydrates, and are essential for various processes in the body. After death, the organism's tissues undergo a series of reactions that generate changes in some molecules, including lipids. This means that determining the lipid change profile can be beneficial in estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). These changes can also help determine burial sites and advance the localization of graves. The aim was to explore and analyze the decomposition process of corpses, focusing on the transformation of lipids, especially triglycerides (TGs) and fatty acids (FAs), and the possible application of these compounds as markers to estimate PMI and detect burial sites. A systematic review of 24 scientific articles from the last 23 years (2000–2023) was conducted. The results show that membrane glycerophospholipids (such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol, among others) are the most studied, and the most promising results are obtained, with decreasing patterns as PMI varies. Fatty acids (FAs) are also identified as potential biomarkers owing to the variations in their postmortem concentration. An increase in saturated fatty acids (SFAs), such as stearic acid and palmitic acid, and a decrease in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, were observed. The importance of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in decomposition is also observed. Finally, as for the burial sites, the presence of fatty acids and some sterols in burial areas of animal and human remains can be verified. In conclusion, glycerophospholipids and fatty acids are good markers for estimating PMI. It has been observed that there are still no equations for estimating the PMI that can be applied to forensic practice, as intrinsic and extrinsic factors are seen to play a vital role in the decomposition process. As for determining burial sites, the importance of soil and textile samples has been demonstrated, showing a direct relationship between saturated fatty acids, hydroxy fatty acids, and some sterols with decomposing remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold plasma (CP) is a non-thermal preservation technology that has been successfully used to decontaminate and extend the shelf life of aquatic products. However, the preservation effect of CP treatment is determined by several factors, including voltage, time, and gas compositions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of gas composition (GasA: 10% O2, 50% N2, 40% CO2; GasB: air; GasC: 30% O2, 30% N2, 40% CO2) on the lipid oxidation of tilapia fillets treated after CP treatment. Changes in the lipid oxidation values, the percentages of fatty acids, and sensory scores were studied during 8 d of refrigerator storage. The results showed that the CP treatment significantly increased all the primary and secondary lipid oxidation values measured in this study, as well as the percentages of saturated fatty acids, but decreased the percentages of unsaturated fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids. The lipid oxidation values were significantly increased in the GasC-CP group. After 8 d, clearly increased percentages of saturated fatty acids, a low level of major polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially linoleic (C18:2n-6)), and a decrease in the percentages of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3) were found in GasC-CP; that is, the serious oxidation of lipids was found in the high O2 concentration group. In addition, the sensory score was also lower than that of the hypoxia CP group. Therefore, high O2 concentrations can enhance lipid oxidation and the changes in the fatty acid concentration. Controlling the O2 concentration is reasonable to limit the degree to which lipids are oxidized in tilapia after the in-package CP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. is the main species for Moss surveys (ICP Vegetation programme) in Southeastern Europe and is widely distributed in the region. In addition to their biomonitoring role, mosses are applied in some countries as a traditional medicine for the treatment of eczema, cuts, burns, eye diseases, etc. Therefore, the chemical and lipid composition of the moss H. cupressiforme is of interest to establish their possible application in different fields. The chemical composition of the moss was examined regarding total lipids, proteins, carbohydrates (i.e., fibres), ash, and moisture content. The main lipid-soluble bioactive components were determined as sterols, tocopherols, phospholipids and fatty acids. The major fatty acids were linoleic (14.9%), oleic (13.8%), palmitic (12.5%) and α-linolenic (11.3%) acids. Unsaturated fatty acids (56.4%) prevailed in the glyceride oil, in which the polyunsaturated ones constituted 32.5%. The lipid indices (atherogenicity, thrombogenicity, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio, peroxidability, and oxidation stability index) were also theoretically calculated based on the fatty acid composition of the moss lipids to establish their health benefits and the rate of oxidation. The primary results of this study revealed H. cupressiforme to be a promising alternative source of bioactive compounds that could be implemented in supplements with health-promoting effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of sausage worldwide increases every year; because of this increase, artisanal products have appeared and are intended to be perceived as natural and healthy. Obesity and cardiovascular diseases associated with consuming meat and meat derivatives have been estimated to be the leading cause of death in several countries. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional quality, lipid content, and presence of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, contributing to demonstrating the real nutritional value of artisanal sausages produced in Ecuador. Sausages from 10 factories in Ambato, Pelileo, and Píllaro, located in Tungurahua, Ecuador, were evaluated. The pH and acidity, color, proximal, sensory, microbiological, and lipid content were assessed. The pH and acidity showed a slight variation in all of the samples. Proximal analysis (moisture, protein, fat, and ash) established that the artisan sausages did not differ from the type of sausages reported in the literature. Microbiological analyses showed a good microbial quality, and there was no presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteria, molds, or yeasts. The sensory attributes were similar for all of the sausages; the panelists did not notice any strange taste or odor. The lipid content showed that the artisanal sausages contained the highest percentage of palmitic, stearic, elaidic, and linolelaidic fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids were the most prevalent in all of the sausages collected from different locations. The results showed that the nutritional, microbiological, and sensory quality of the artisanal sausages did not show any parameter that would allow them to be classified as different or as having a better nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of different dietary n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratios and gender on key carcass traits, as well as the nutritional and technological quality of lipids in medium–heavy pig tissues have been poorly studied. To investigate the subject, 24 Large White, barrows and gilts, evenly divided into two groups of 12, were fed from 80 kg of live-weight (LW) until slaughter at 150 kg LW, either a high (9.7:1) (HPR) or low (1.4:1) (LPR) dietary n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. On individual samples of longissimus thoracis muscle (LTM), subcutaneous (SF) and perirenal (PF) adipose tissues (ATs), the fatty acid (FA) composition was determined by gas chromatography, and lipid nutritional indices (LNIs) were calculated. The oxidative stability of meat was evaluated by determining the malondialdehyde content on raw and cooked (24 h postmortem) and refrigerated (8 days postmortem) LTM samples. The carcass traits did not vary between genders and diets. The LPR group showed a higher n-3 PUFA level and a lower n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in all the tissues examined and better LNI, especially in the ATs. Diet did not affect the oxidative stability of meat. Gender did not influence the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio, while barrows showed improvements in some LNI in ATs. Reducing the n-6/n-3 ratio in the diet of growing–finishing medium–heavy pigs improved the FA profile in all tissues and most LNI in ATs without impairing the oxidative stability of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological membranes, primarily composed of lipids, envelop each living cell. The intricate composition and organization of membrane lipids, including the variety of fatty acids they encompass, serve a dynamic role in sustaining cellular structural integrity and functionality. Typically, modifications in lipid composition coincide with consequential alterations in universally significant signaling pathways. Exploring the various fatty acids, which serve as the foundational building blocks of membrane lipids, provides crucial insights into the underlying mechanisms governing a myriad of cellular processes, such as membrane fluidity, protein trafficking, signal transduction, intercellular communication, and the etiology of certain metabolic disorders. Furthermore, comprehending how alterations in the lipid composition, especially concerning the fatty acid profile, either contribute to or prevent the onset of pathological conditions stands as a compelling area of research. Hence, this review aims to meticulously introduce the intricacies of membrane lipids and their constituent fatty acids in a healthy organism, thereby illuminating their remarkable diversity and profound influence on cellular function. Furthermore, this review aspires to highlight some potential therapeutic targets for various pathological conditions that may be ameliorated through dietary fatty acid supplements. The initial section of this review expounds on the eukaryotic biomembranes and their complex lipids. Subsequent sections provide insights into the synthesis, membrane incorporation, and distribution of fatty acids across various fractions of membrane lipids. The last section highlights the functional significance of membrane-associated fatty acids and their innate capacity to shape the various cellular physiological responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Probiotics can be used in pigs fattening as a partial or full alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. Their composition and the dosage used in the feed must not impair the nutritional value of the meat raw materials obtained from them. The use of the probiotic preparation Bokashi (containing specific strains of Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast) as a feed additive in fattening pigs resulted in significant changes in meat and backfat fatty acid profiles and the lipid indexes calculated from them. The changes in the fatty acid profile of backfat appeared to be more beneficial to consumer health due to the increased proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). From a technological point of view, there is a more favorable Saturation Index (SI) value in backfat. The study aimed to assess the effect of supplementation of pig diet with the Bokashi probiotic on the fatty acid profile of longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles and backfat. The research involved 120 hybrid pigs deriving from Naïma sows and P-76 boars. The experimental group's pigs received probiotics in their feed (containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus plantarum). To analyze the fatty acid profile in intramuscular fat (IMF) of LL and backfat, 24 pig carcasses from the control group and 26 from the probiotic-supplemented group were randomly selected. Probiotic supplementation increased the Atherogenic Index, reduced the proportion of C20:4, and increased C12:0 and C18:2 n-6 in IMF LL, without affecting ΣSFA, ΣMUFA, and ΣPUFA. In backfat, probiotic supplementation decreased C18:1 and C18:2 n-6 proportion and increased C18:3 n-3, C20:3 n-6, and C20:4 n-6. These changes resulted in significantly higher ΣMUFA, ΣPUFA, PUFA Σn-3/Σn-6, and lower Saturation Index (SI). From a consumer health and technological point of view, probiotic supplementation improved the lipid profile of backfat to a greater extent than LL muscle. Bokashi, at a dose of 3 g/kg of feed in the last stage of pig production, had no significant effect on the fatty acid profile of the meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five varieties of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.; Futura 75, Futura 83, Felina 32, Earlina 08 FC and Henola) were planted to produce grain and then to study their potential as an alternative source of nutritional compounds due to their fat, carbohydrate and protein content. The lipid fraction can account for 35% of the total composition of hemp seeds; therefore, the aim of this study was to determine their fat content, focusing mainly on the characterisation of the fatty acid profile of the different varieties of hemp seeds through gas chromatography with a flame ionisation detector for possible use of the whole grains or the oil extracted from them. The fat content of the seeds ranged between 23 and 31% of the total composition, with Earlina 08 FC significantly (p < 0.05) being the richest in fat content. We also found that 87% of the total fatty acids were unsaturated, being polyunsaturated acids the main group and linoleic acid the most abundant fatty acid. In addition, linoleic acid acts as a precursor of biologically active molecules involved in many physiological processes. Thus, hemp seeds may be considered a valuable source of healthy fatty acids to include in plant-based food formulation, regarding that further studies are being conducted to characterise other nutritional components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structured lipids (SLs) offer a promising avenue for designing novel formulations enriched in n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) with potential health benefits. Triacylglycerols (TAGs), the most common fats in the human diet, are both non-toxic and chemically stable. The metabolic efficiency and digestibility of TAGs are significantly influenced by the position of fatty acids (FAs) within the glycerol backbone, with FAs at the sn-2 position being readily absorbed. Over the past two decades, advancements in SL research have led to the development of modified TAGs, achieved either through chemical or enzymatic processes, resulting in SLs. The ideal structure of SLs involves medium-chain FAs at the sn-1,3 positions and long-chain n-3 LCPUFAs at the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone, conferring specific physicochemical and nutritional attributes. These tailored SL formulations find wide-ranging applications in the food and nutraceutical industries, showing promise for dietary support in promoting health and mitigating various diseases. In particular, SLs can be harnessed as functional oils to augment TAG metabolism, thereby impeding the development of fatty liver, countering the onset of obesity, and preventing atherosclerosis and age-related chronic diseases. In scrutinising prevailing research trajectories, this review endeavours to provide an in-depth analysis of the multifaceted advantages and repercussions associated with the synthesis of SLs. It elucidates their burgeoning potential in enhancing health and well-being across a range of demographic cohorts. Specifically, the implications of SL utilisation are discussed in the context of healthcare environments and early childhood developmental support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation induces oxidative stress in skin cells, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and perturbing enzyme-mediated metabolism. This disruption is evidenced with elevated concentrations of metabolites that play important roles in the modulation of redox homeostasis and inflammatory responses. Thus, this research sought to determine the impacts of the lipid extract derived from the Nannochloropsis oceanica microalgae on phospholipid metabolic processes in keratinocytes subjected to UVB exposure. UVB-irradiated keratinocytes were treated with the microalgae extract. Subsequently, analyses were performed on cell lysates to ascertain the levels of phospholipid/free fatty acids (GC-FID), lipid peroxidation byproducts (GC-MS), and endocannabinoids/eicosanoids (LC-MS), as well as to measure the enzymatic activities linked with phospholipid metabolism, receptor expression, and total antioxidant status (spectrophotometric methods). The extract from N. oceanica microalgae, by diminishing the activities of enzymes involved in the synthesis of endocannabinoids and eicosanoids (PLA2/COX1/2/LOX), augmented the concentrations of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), namely DHA and EPA. These concentrations are typically diminished due to UVB irradiation. As a consequence, there was a marked reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid (AA) and associated pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and endocannabinoids, as well as the expression of CB1/TRPV1 receptors. The microalgal extract also mitigated the increase in lipid peroxidation byproducts, specifically MDA in non-irradiated samples and 10-F4t-NeuroP in both control and post-UVB exposure. These findings indicate that the lipid extract derived from N. oceanica, by mitigating the deleterious impacts of UVB radiation on keratinocyte phospholipids, assumed a pivotal role in reinstating intracellular metabolic equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sprouted grains are gaining popularity as functional food ingredients. This study aimed to evaluate the lipid and fatty acid composition of eight sprouted grains (millet, amaranth, quinoa, wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, and oat). The method used was germination for up to 72 h at temperatures ranging from 19–23 °C. In general, the lipid content increased in the various grains sprouted, providing a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The % oil yield ranged from 1.17 ± 0.02% in sprouted rye to 5.71 ± 0.26% in sprouted amaranth. Germinated oat showed the greatest increase in fat content, 54.3%, compared to the control. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were more prevalent in whole grains (46.9–75.6%) than saturated fatty acids (10.1–25.9%) and increased with sprouting. The primary fatty acids detected in the grains, in order of abundance, were linoleic, oleic, palmitic, linolenic, and stearic acids. Millet sprouts contained the lowest total saturated fatty acids and the highest polyunsaturated fatty acids. Amaranth had the highest amount of saturated fatty acids, while buckwheat contained the lowest quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The lowest omega-6/omega-3 ratio was 7 to 1 in sprouted rye and 8 to 1 in sprouted barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle (SkM) lipid composition plays an essential role in physiological muscle maintenance and exercise performance. Thyroid hormones (THs) regulate muscle formation and fuel energy utilization by modulating carbohydrates and lipid and protein metabolism. The best-known effects of THs in SkM include the promotion of mitochondrial biogenesis, the fiber-type switch from oxidative to glycolytic fibers, and enhanced angiogenesis. To assess the role of THs on the lipidic composition of SkM fibers, we performed lipidomic analyses of SkM cells and tissues, glucose tolerance experiments, and exercise performance tests. Our data demonstrated that TH treatment induces remodeling of the lipid profile and changes the proportion of fatty acids in SkM. In brief, THs significantly reduced the ratio of stearic/oleic acid in the muscle similar to what is induced by physical activity. The increased proportion of unsaturated fatty acids was linked to an improvement in insulin sensitivity and endurance exercise. These findings point to THs as critical endocrine factors affecting exercise performance and indicate that homeostatic maintenance of TH signals, by improving cell permeability and receptor stability at the cell membrane, is crucial for muscle physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, plants have strengthened their relevance as sources of molecules potentially beneficial for health. This underpinning effect also arises from the extensive research that has been conducted on plants that are typically undervalued, besides being scarcely used. This is the case with Camellia japonica in Galicia (NW Spain), where, despite its abundance, it is exclusively used for ornamental purposes and has been studied only for its proximate composition. Thus, the present study was conducted on several additional parameters in the flowers of eight C. japonica varieties. Our results show that camellia has a high nutritional value, with carbohydrates as the most abundant macronutrients followed by a moderate protein content (4.4–6.3 g/100 g dry weight) and high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially ω-3 fatty acids, which represent 12.9–22.7% of the total fatty acids), raising its potential for use for nutritional purposes. According to the thermochemical characterization and elemental composition of camellia, the raw material has poor mineralization and low nitrogen content, but high percentages of volatile matter and high carbon-fixation rates, making it a promising alternative for biofuel production. Furthermore, preliminary analysis reveals a high concentration of different bioactive compounds. As a result of these findings, camellias can be used as food or functional ingredients to improve the nutritional quality of food formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the importance of marine lipids, specifically long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, in human nutrition and health. It highlights that the global population does not consume enough marine lipids through seafood or dietary supplements, and that there are many underutilized marine species that could be potential sources of marine lipids for food and health. The composition of marine lipids, including different lipid classes and fatty acids, is also explored, as well as their health benefits and the physico-chemical properties that affect their quality and behavior in food processing. The document emphasizes the need for further research to understand and utilize marine lipids for improved nutrition and health. [Extracted from the article]

Previous attempts to increase the level of flaxseed in hens' diet for the production of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs)-enriched eggs have been commonly associated with undesirable effects on production efficiency, lipid health indices, and oxidative stability of eggs, requiring adequate research attention. This study investigated the effects of feeding a moderate level of flaxseed (FS) and plant polyphenol extracts (PPEs) on fatty acid content, oxidative stability, and lipid health indices in eggs of slow-growing Sasso T451A laying hens. One hundred and five hens were assigned to five groups (seven replicates of three) and fed on FS (75 g flaxseed and no antioxidants), VE8 (75 g flaxseed and 800 mg vitamin E), TS8 (75 g flaxseed and 800 mg Thymus schimperi), DA8 (75 g flaxseed and 800 mg Dodonaea angustifolia), and CD8 (75 g flaxseed and 800 mg Curcuma domestica) extract per kg diets. The egg yolk content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5 n-3) in the DA8, TS8, and CD8 diets and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n-3) in TS8 and CD8 diets significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared with the FS diet. The FS diet significantly increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in egg yolks, whereas the TS8 diet decreased it by 67% (p < 0.05). Little difference was observed in yolk fatty acid content between cooked and raw eggs. Production of n-3 PUFA-enriched eggs with favorable lipid health indices was possible through inclusion of PPEs extracted from local plant species grown in Ethiopia and a moderate dose of flaxseed in the diet of laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insects are an important source of protein but insect fat increasingly slides into focus due to its high content of unsaturated fatty acids. Tenebrio molitor larvae were reared on several substrates with different nutritional contents to influence the fat and fatty acid contents of the larvae. The fat and fatty acid composition of the mealworm larvae were then analyzed in order to determine if a nutritional change could be detected using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. This is a rapid and non-destructive method for the online analysis of chemical composition. In this study, the diet used for rearing had a significant effect on the larval fat content and fatty acid composition as well as the absorbance of the near-infrared spectra and the larval growth rate and weight gain, i.e., a high fat content substrate reduced weight gain and larval growth. The most prevalent fatty acids identified and quantified were palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid, showing a correlation between larval content and rearing diets containing high fatty acid amounts. A high dietary content of lauric acid, myristic acid, and α-linolenic acid resulted in a high content of these fatty acids in mealworm larvae. The fat and fatty acid content could be predicted accurately using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and were highly influenced by several diets having different proximate compositions. Several studies have shown that mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L.) could provide animals and humans with valuable nutrients. Tenebrio molitor larvae were studied to determine whether their rearing diets affected their fat and fatty acid content and to ascertain if it is possible to detect the changes in the larval fat composition using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). For this reason, a standard control diet (100% wheat bran) and an experimental diet, consisting of wheat bran and the supplementation of a different substrate (coconut flour, flaxseed flour, pea protein flour, rose hip hulls, grape pomace, or hemp protein flour) were used. The results showed lesser weight gain and slower growth rates for larvae raised on diets with a high fat content. A total of eight fatty acids were identified and quantified, where palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids were the most prevalent and showed a correlation between larval content and their content in the rearing diets. There was a high content of lauric acid (3.2–4.6%), myristic acid (11.4–12.9%), and α-linolenic acid 8.4–13.0%) in mealworm larvae as a result of the high dietary content of these fatty acids. NIR spectra were also influenced by the fat and fatty acid composition, as larval absorbance values differed greatly. The coefficient of the determination of prediction (R2P) was over 0.97, with an RPD value of 8.3 for the fat content, which indicates the high predictive accuracy of the NIR model. Furthermore, it was possible to develop calibration models with great predictive efficiency (R2P = 0.81–0.95, RPD = 2.6–5.6) for all fatty acids, except palmitoleic and stearic acids which had a low predictive power (R2P < 0.5, RPD < 2.0). The detection of fat and fatty acids using NIRS can help insect producers to quickly and easily analyze the nutritional composition of mealworm larvae during the rearing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraction of intracellular lipids of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has been systematically studied aiming towards a sustainable extraction process for lipid recovery. Selection of suitable industrial (bulk) solvents and extraction parameters that lead to maximization of lipid recovery are significant issues to be addressed, with industrial applications motivating this study. Biomass from fermentation of Yarrowia lipolytica (MUCL 28849) was used in small laboratory tests to assess different solvent mixtures (i.e., methanol/hexane, isopropanol/hexane, and methanol/ethyl acetate), implementing a systematic design of experiments methodology to identify near-optimum values of key extraction variables (i.e., polar/non-polar ratio, vortex time, dry biomass/solvent ratio) in regard to lipid yield (g lipids/g dry biomass). The methanol/hexane mixture exhibited the highest extraction yield in a wide range of experimental conditions, resulting in the following optimum parameters: polar/non-polar ratio 3/5, vortex time 0.75 h, and dry biomass/solvent ratio 40. Extraction tests on a fifty-times-larger scale (in a Soxhlet apparatus employing the optimal extraction parameters) confirmed the optimization outcome by obtaining up to 27.6% lipids per dry biomass (L/DB), compared to 12.1% L/DB with the reference lipid extraction method employing chloroform/methanol. Assessment of lipid composition showed that unsaturated fatty acid recovery was favored by the methanol/hexane solvent. Fatty acid composition was not affected by the increase in Soxhlet reflux cycles, whilst the lipid yield was notably favored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are the fundamental components of cell membranes and they play a significant role in their integrity and fluidity. The alteration in lipid composition of membranes has been reported to be a major response to abiotic environmental stresses. Seasonal dynamics of membrane lipids in the shoots of Ephedra monosperma J.G. Gmel. ex C.A. Mey. growing in natural conditions of permafrost ecosystems was studied using HPTLC, GC-MS and ESI-MS. An important role of lipid metabolism was established during the autumn-winter period when the shoots of the evergreen shrub were exposed to low positive (3.6 °C), negative (−8.3 °C) and extremely low temperatures (−38.4 °C). Maximum accumulation of phosphatidic acid (PA), the amount of which is times times greater than the sum of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (PC + PE) was noted in shoots of E. monosperma in the summer-autumn period. The autumn hardening period (3.6 °C) is accompanied by active biosynthesis and accumulation of membrane lipids, a decrease of saturated 34:1 PCs, 34:1 PEs and 34:1 PAs, and an increase in unsaturated long-chain 38:5 PEs, 38:6 PEs, indicating that the adaptation of E. monosperma occurs not at the level of lipid classes but at the level of molecular species. At a further decrease of average daily air temperature in October (−8.3 °C) a sharp decline of PA level was registered. At an extreme reduction of environmental temperature (−38.4 °C) the content of non-bilayer PE and PA increases, the level of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) rises due to the increase of C18:2(Δ9,12) and C18:3(Δ9,12,15) acids and the decrease of C16:0 acids. It is concluded that changes in lipid metabolism reflect structural and functional reorganization of cell membranes and are an integral component of the complex process of plant hardening to low temperatures, which contributes to the survival of E. monosperma monocotyledonous plants in the extreme conditions of the Yakutia cryolithozone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques, including liquid chromatography coupling, shotgun lipidomics, MS imaging, and ion mobility, are widely used to analyze lipids. However, with enhanced separation capacity and an optimized chemical derivatization approach, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) can be a powerful tool to investigate some groups of small lipids in the framework of lipidomics. This study describes the optimization of a dedicated two-stage derivatization and extraction process to analyze different saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in plasma by two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC–TOFMS) using a full factorial design. The optimized condition has a composite desirability of 0.9159. This optimized sample preparation and chromatographic condition were implemented to differentiate between positive (BT) and negative (UT) boar-tainted pigs based on fatty acid profiling in pig serum using GC×GC–TOFMS. A chemometric screening, including unsupervised (PCA, HCA) and supervised analysis (PLS–DA), as well as univariate analysis (volcano plot), was performed. The results suggested that the concentration of PUFA ω-6 and cholesterol derivatives were significantly increased in BT pigs, whereas SFA and PUFA ω-3 concentrations were increased in UT pigs. The metabolic pathway and quantitative enrichment analysis suggest the significant involvement of linolenic acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids is considered a valuable strategy to supply the low intake of these fatty acids. Thus, the safety of the supplements is an important milestone. Because of that, we analyzed 20 unflavored supplements sold in the French market for fatty acid and triglyceride composition, for EPA and DHA, and for tocol content, as well as for oxidative status. This study found that only 2.5% of the supplements did not meet their label claims for omega-3 content. TAG analysis showed high variability among the triglyceride distribution, and the same trend was also noticed for the tocol content; in fact, a high variability of the distribution of the six tocols (four tocopherols and two tocotrienols) was found among the samples. Of the tested products, all of them complied with peroxide value, p-anisidine value, and Totox values established by the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) and were not oxidized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eggs are a common food of animal origin, inexpensive, and rich in bioactive substances with high biological value. Eggs enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are extremely desired by the progressive consumer. However, during storage, eggs undergo some physiochemical changes, which decrease their value. In this regard, the effect of dietary rosehip meal and flaxseed meal on hens' egg quality characteristics, amino acids, fatty acids, health-related indices, antioxidant capacity, total polyphenols content, and shelf life was examined. For this study 120 Tetra SL laying hens, 29 weeks of age, were fed, for 4 weeks, three diets that included control (basal diet—RF0), basal diet + 1.5% rosehip and 7% flaxseed meal (RF1), and basal diet + 3% rosehip and 7% flaxseed meal (RF2). Productive performance of hens were recorded. The content of essential amino acids (EAA), antioxidant amino acids (AAA), and sulfur amino acids (SAA) was higher in RF1 and RF2, compared with RF0. Eggs belonging to the RF1 and RF2 groups had significantly (p < 0.05) higher content of n-3 PUFAs, especially linolenic and docosahexaenoic acids. Total antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content increased in both rosehip supplemented groups, but especially in RF2. Moreover, eggs from RF1 and RF2 groups maintained significantly higher egg quality parameters after storage for 14 and 28 days in the refrigerator (5 °C) and ambient temperature (21 °C), compared with those from the RF0 group. In the Haugh unit, yolk and albumen pH presented better values in RF1 and RF2 eggs compared to the RF0 eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whey-based beverages could be an effective way of reusing a by-product of th cheese industry, mitigating environmental hazards and, at the same time, profiting a useful food with high nutritional and antioxidant properties. In this study, a traditional Ecuadorian beverage (Colada) was prepared combining sweet whey, Maracuyá and barley. Antioxidant properties before and after an in vitro digestion using the INFOGEST method were determined, and relationships with intestinal transformations of the lipid and protein fractions were analyzed. The digestive process had a positive effect on antioxidant properties based on increased values of ABTS and FRAP located in the bioaccessible fraction (BF), together with strong increments of total polyphenols. Moreover, pretreatment of Caco-2 cells with the BF of Colada significantly reduced ROS generation (p < 0.001) measured by the dichlorofluorescein assay. Substantial changes of the fatty acid profile occurred during digestion, such as a fall of saturated fatty acids and a rise of polyunsaturated. The protein profile, examined by SDS-PAGE and exclusion molecular chromatography in the BF, showed that the major part of the proteins were digested in the intestinal phase. Analysis of NanoLC-MS/MS revealed 18 antioxidant peptides originated from whey proteins, but also 16 peptides from barley with potential antioxidant properties. In conclusion, combining sweet whey with Maracuyá and barley constitutes an excellent nutritional beverage with a strong antioxidant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to determine the major and minor nutritional constituents of Sorbus domestica L. fruits. It was revealed that palmitic acid was the most commonly occurring saturated fatty acid, while linoleic acid represented the major polyunsaturated fatty acid. The sterol fraction consisted mainly of β-sitosterol. Small amounts of lipophilic pigments were quantified. Potassium, iron, and boron were the most abundant macro-, micro-, and ultra-trace elements. The amino acid composition analysis suggested that the non-essential amino acids predominated over the essential ones. Soluble sugars (fructose and glucose) represented a large part of the total carbohydrate content, but pectin formed the major part of polysaccharides. Malic acid was the most abundant organic acid whereas quercetin-3-β-glucoside, neochlorogenic, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids were the major phenolic constituents. Fruits exhibited free-radical scavenging and protecting ability against peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals. Service tree fruits provided valuable bioactive constituents having a high nutritional value and potential health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Expected climate change scenarios will have inevitable and important impacts on key foundation marine species such as seagrasses. This study was aimed to understand how the dwarf eelgrass Zostera noltii leaf lipid landscapes are altered under predicted ocean warming (+4 °C) and acidification (ΔpH 0.4) conditions. A severe reduction in the leaf total fatty acid (FA) content was observed in seagrasses individually exposed to hypercapnic or warming conditions, and this depletion was ameliorated under combined exposure to ocean warming and acidification conditions. The tested treatments also impacted the FA composition of all lipid classes, with warming exposure leading to decreases in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Galactolipid remodeling seems to have key roles in the physiological changes observed in seagrasses under these tested conditions, highlighting the higher impact of warming and that the proposed stress alleviation effect induced by increased water-dissolved CO2 availability. Neutral lipids were substantially increased under warming conditions, mainly with increases in C18 FA, impairing their use as substrates to maintain the osmotic balance of the cells. Nonetheless, the pace at which ocean warming is occurring can overcome the ameliorative capacity induced by higher CO2 availability, leaving seagrasses under severe heat stress beyond their lipid-remodeling capacity. Coastal seagrass meadows provide a variety of essential ecological and economic services, including nursery grounds, sediment stabilization, nutrient cycling, coastal protection, and blue carbon sequestration. However, these ecosystems are highly threatened by ongoing climatic change. This study was aimed to understand how the dwarf eelgrass Zostera noltii leaf lipid landscapes are altered under predicted ocean warming (+4 °C) and hypercapnic (ΔpH 0.4) conditions. Warming and hypercapnic conditions were found to induce a severe reduction in the leaf total fatty acid, though the combined treatment substantially alleviated this depletion. The lipid discrimination revealed a significant increase in the relative monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) content in both hypercapnic and warming conditions, allied to plastidial membrane stabilization mechanisms. Hypercapnia also promoted enhanced phosphatidylglycerol (PG) leaf contents, a mechanism often associated with thylakoid reinvigoration. In addition to changing the proportion of storage, galacto- and phospholipids, the tested treatments also impacted the FA composition of all lipid classes, with warming exposure leading to decreases in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); however, the combination of both stress conditions alleviated this effect. The observed galactolipid and phospholipid PUFA decreases are compatible with a homeoviscous adaptation, allowing for the maintenance of membrane stability by counteracting excessive membrane fluidity. Neutral lipid contents were substantially increased under warming conditions, especially in C18 fatty acids (C18), impairing their use as substrates for fatty acylated derivatives essential for maintaining the osmotic balance of cells. An analysis of the phospholipid and galactolipid fatty acid profiles as a whole revealed a higher degree of discrimination, highlighting the higher impact of warming and the proposed stress alleviation effect induced by increased water-dissolved CO2 availability. Still, it is essential to remember that the pace at which the ocean is warming can overcome the ameliorative capacity induced by higher CO2 availability, leaving seagrasses under severe heat stress beyond their lipid remodeling capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: BRAF is a serine/threonine kinase that is commonly mutated across cancers. The BRAF V600E mutation is targetable with kinase inhibitors; however, many patients eventually develop resistance. Recent evidence suggests that tumors harboring BRAF mutations may oxidize fatty acids for energy rather than utilizing aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect). Understanding the metabolism of cells harboring BRAF mutations may uncover targets to improve therapy response. We studied the effects of BRAF mutation and expression on metabolism. We found that cell expressing BRAF V600E were enriched with immunomodulatory lipids and have a metabolism that is distinct from cells expressing wild type BRAF. We also found that patients with melanoma who did not respond to BRAF-targeted therapy had plasma lipid profiles that were different from patients who responded to this therapy. Overall, our findings indicate that targeting lipid metabolism may be a potential alternative strategy to improve patient responses to BRAF-targeted therapies. There is increasing evidence that oxidative metabolism and fatty acids play an important role in BRAF-driven tumorigenesis, yet the effect of BRAF mutation and expression on metabolism is poorly understood. We examined how BRAF mutation and expression modulates metabolite abundance. Using the non-transformed NIH3T3 cell line, we generated cells that stably overexpressed BRAF V600E or BRAF WT. We found that cells expressing BRAF V600E were enriched with immunomodulatory lipids. Further, we found a unique transcriptional signature that was exclusive to BRAF V600E expression. We also report that BRAF V600E mutation promoted accumulation of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and rewired metabolic flux for non-Warburg behavior. This cancer promoting mutation further induced the formation of tunneling nanotube (TNT)-like protrusions in NIH3T3 cells that preferentially accumulated lipid droplets. In the plasma of melanoma patients harboring the BRAF V600E mutation, levels of lysophosphatidic acid, sphingomyelin, and long chain fatty acids were significantly increased in the cohort of patients that did not respond to BRAF inhibitor therapy. Our findings show BRAF V600 status plays an important role in regulating immunomodulatory lipid profiles and lipid trafficking, which may inform future therapy across cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different photo-cycles on the growth and biochemical profile of Scenedesmus obliquus CPCC05, focusing on food interest compounds. The photo-cycle conditions were separated into three groups: long-term photo-cycles (24:0, 22:2, 20:4, 18:6, 12:12, and 10:14 (h:h)), frequency photo-cycles (2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 times per day (t/d)), and short photo-cycles (0.91:0.09, 0.83:0.17, 0.75:0.25, and 0.50:0.50 (s:s)) of light:dark, respectively. The results showed these microalgae can store enough energy to support cell growth for continuous periods of up to 2 h in the dark, without affecting the productivity of the process. This 2 h, when divided into 2 cycles per day (2 t/d), showed the best growth condition (3700 mg L−1), generation time (14.40 h), and maximum biomass productivity (21.43 mg L h−1). This photo-cycle of 2 t/d was also the best condition for the production of total sterols. However, the values of polyunsaturated fatty acids, lipid content, and amino acids obtained higher yields in the short photo-cycle of 0.75:0.25. Thus, the modulation of light cycles becomes an important tool for boosting and directing the production of target molecules in phototrophic cultures of microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of higher fat content in ewe milk during lactation can help to improve the nutritional value and quality of the derived dairy products. In this study, we characterized fatty acids from the wool of Suffolk ewes at two time points during lactation and assessed whether they were related to milk fat content through discriminant analysis and, thus, could be potentially used to identify ewes with a high fat content. Eighty single-bearing Suffolk ewes of similar body weight, body score, and age were selected for this study. The overall fat contents of milk and wool were determined, as well as the fatty acids in the wool. The wool fat content was 1.14% on average. The proportions of wool fatty acids were 65.82% saturated, 21.70% monounsaturated, and 12.48% polyunsaturated fatty acids. The wool fatty acid concentrations of C18:1n9c, C18:2n6c, and C22:2 were higher in ewes whose milk had a high fat content at both time points. Moreover, the levels of these fatty acids were positively correlated with milk fat content. Discriminant analyses using C18:1n9c and C18:2n6c were the best candidates for the prediction of high milk fat content, with an accuracy of 87.50%. The wool fatty acids C18:1n9c and C18:2n6c could potentially be used to determine the milk fat content of ewes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 and n-3 PUFA) can modulate inflammatory processes. In western diets, the content of n-6 PUFA is much higher than that of n-3 PUFA, which has been suggested to promote a pro-inflammatory phenotype. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of modulating the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio on the formation of monohydroxylated fatty acid (HO-FAs) derived from the n-6 PUFA arachidonic acid (AA) and the n-3 PUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in THP-1 macrophages by means of LC-MS. Lipid metabolites were measured in THP-1 macrophage cell pellets. The concentration of AA-derived hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) was not significantly changed when incubated THP-1 macrophages in a high AA/(EPA+DHA) ratio of 19/1 vs. a low ratio AA/(EPA+DHA) of 1/1 (950.6 ± 110 ng/mg vs. 648.2 ± 92.4 ng/mg, p = 0.103). Correspondingly, the concentration of EPA-derived hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acids (HEPEs) and DHA-derived hydroxydocosahexaenoic acids (HDHAs) were significantly increased (63.9 ± 7.8 ng/mg vs. 434.4 ± 84.3 ng/mg, p = 0.012 and 84.9 ± 18.3 ng/mg vs. 439.4 ± 82.7 ng/mg, p = 0.014, respectively). Most notable was the strong increase of 18-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (18-HEPE) formation in THP-1 macrophages, with levels of 170.9 ± 40.2 ng/mg protein in the high n-3 PUFA treated cells. Thus our data indicate that THP-1 macrophages prominently utilize EPA and DHA for monohydroxylated metabolite formation, in particular 18-HEPE, which has been shown to be released by macrophages to prevent pressure overload-induced maladaptive cardiac remodeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress causes changes in the lipid composition of Mortierella alpina. In order to investigate the molecular mechanisms of M. alpina in response to cold stress, transcriptome analyses were performed on three groups of M. alpina cultured at (1) 25 °C, (2) 15 °C, and (3) first at 25 °C for 2 days and then 15 °C for 7 days, respectively. The results of a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis suggested that, compared with 25 °C conditions, dry weight and lipid production were significantly decreased in M. alpina grown at 15 °C, with a total of 1552 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in response to cold stress. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis was conducted to verify the expression patterns of six DEGs involved in lipid metabolism. Results of the enrichment analyses of the DEGs based on the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases showed that fatty acid compositions were regulated by genes involved in the glycolysis pathway, fatty acid synthesis, the pentose phosphate pathway, the glycerolipid pathway, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the glycerophospholipid pathway. Our study provided solid experimental evidence and novel insights into the metabolic engineering and the molecular mechanisms regulating the response to cold stress in M. alpina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macadamia nuts are considered a high-quality oil crop worldwide. To date, the lipid diversity and the genetic factors that mediate storage lipid biosynthesis in Macadamia ternifolia are poorly known. Here, we performed a comprehensive transcriptomic and lipidomic data analysis to understand the mechanism of lipid biosynthesis by using young, medium-aged, and mature fruit kernels. Our lipidomic analysis showed that the M. ternifolia kernel was a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, different species of triacylglycerols, diacylglycerol, ceramides, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidic acid had altered accumulations during the developmental stages. The transcriptome analysis revealed a large percentage of differently expressed genes during the different stages of macadamia growth. Most of the genes with significant differential expression performed functional activity of oxidoreductase and were enriched in the secondary metabolite pathway. The integration of lipidomic and transcriptomic data allowed for the identification of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, diacylglycerol kinase, phosphatidylinositols, nonspecific phospholipase C, pyruvate kinase 2, 3-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein reductase, and linoleate 9S-lipoxygenase as putative candidate genes involved in lipid biosynthesis, storage, and oil quality. Our study found comprehensive datasets of lipidomic and transcriptomic changes in the developing kernel of M. ternifolia. In addition, the identification of candidate genes provides essential prerequisites to understand the molecular mechanism of lipid biosynthesis in the kernel of M. ternifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argan oil is rich in long-chain unsaturated fatty acids (FA), mostly oleic and linoleic, and natural antioxidants. This study addresses the production of low-calorie structured lipids by acidolysis reaction, in a solvent-free system, between caprylic (C8:0; system I) or capric (C10:0; system II) acids and argan oil, used as triacylglycerol (TAG) source. Three commercial immobilized lipases were tested: Novozym® 435, Lipozyme® TL IM, and Lipozyme® RM IM. Higher incorporation degree (ID) was achieved when C10:0 was used as acyl donor, for all the lipases tested. Lipozyme® RM IM yielded the highest ID for both systems (28.9 ± 0.05 mol.% C10:0, and 11.4 ± 2.2 mol.% C8:0), being the only catalyst able to incorporate C8:0 under the reaction conditions for biocatalyst screening (molar ratio 2:1 FA/TAG and 55 °C). The optimal conditions for Lipozyme® RM IM in system II were found by response surface methodology (66 °C; molar ratio FA/TAG of 4:1), enabling to reach an ID of 40.9 mol.% of C10:0. Operational stability of Lipozyme® RM IM in system II was also evaluated under optimal conditions, after eight consecutive 24 h-batches, with biocatalyst rehydration between cycles. The biocatalyst presented a half-life time of 103 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Microalgae are a valuable natural resource for a variety of value-added products. This determines the relevance of developments aimed at increasing the efficiency of their cultivation. First of all, the growth of microalgae is determined by the impact of light. The main parameters characterizing the light conditions during the cultivation of microalgae are light intensity, duration of lighting, and the use of rays of different spectral composition. Manipulations with the duration of the photoperiod and the use of pulsed light can avoid photodamage of microalgae cells and create conditions for the most efficient absorption of light photons. The optimal light conditions for photosynthesis, growth, accumulation of lipids, fatty acid composition, and carotenes content differ both in different taxonomic groups of microalgae and in different strains of the same species. Microalgae are a valuable natural resource for a variety of value-added products. The growth of microalgae is determined by the impact of many factors, but, from the point of view of the implementation of autotrophic growth, light is of primary importance. This work presents an overview of the influence of light conditions on the growth of microalgae, the content of lipids, carotenoids, and the composition of fatty acids in their biomass, taking into account parameters such as the intensity, duration of lighting, and use of rays of different spectral composition. The optimal light intensity for the growth of microalgae lies in the following range: 26−400 µmol photons m−2 s−1. An increase in light intensity leads to an activation of lipid synthesis. For maximum lipid productivity, various microalgae species and strains need lighting of different intensities: from 60 to 700 µmol photons m−2 s−1. Strong light preferentially increases the triacylglyceride content. The intensity of lighting has a regulating effect on the synthesis of fatty acids, carotenoids, including β-carotene, lutein and astaxanthin. In intense lighting conditions, saturated fatty acids usually accumulate, as well as monounsaturated ones, and the number of polyunsaturated fatty acids decreases. Red as well as blue LED lighting improves the biomass productivity of microalgae of various taxonomic groups. Changing the duration of the photoperiod, the use of pulsed light can stimulate microalgae growth, the production of lipids, and carotenoids. The simultaneous use of light and other stresses contributes to a stronger effect on the productivity of algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to assess the fatty acid profile and nutraceutical properties of lipids contained in fallow deer (Dama dama) meat produced in organic and conventional farming systems. Longissimus lumborum (LL) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles from 24 fallow deer carcasses were selected for the study. The fallow deer meat from the organic farming system was characterized by significantly lower intramuscular fat content. The fatty acid profile in the organic meat was characterized by a particularly high proportion (p < 0.0001) of conjugated linoleic acid—CLA (LL—2.29%, SM—2.14%), alpha-linolenic acid—ALA (LL—4.32%, SM—3.87%), and docosahexaenoic acid—DHA (LL—2.83%, SM—2.60%). The organic system had a beneficial effect (p < 0.0001) on the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including n-3 PUFAs, which resulted in a more favorable n-6 PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid)/n-3 PUFA ratio. The significantly higher nutritional quality of organic meat lipids was confirmed by such nutraceutical indicators as the thrombogenic index (TI), ∆9-desaturase C16, elongase, and docosahexaenoic acid+eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA+EPA) in the LL and SM and cholesterol index (CI), and the cholesterol-saturated fat index (CSI) indices in the SM. LL was characterized by higher overall quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The use of fats derived from palm is becoming very common in dairy sheep farms to increase the energy concentration of the diet and therefore the milk production. However, these fats may negatively affect the nutritional quality of milk, whereas feeding unsaturated oils may improve milk fatty acid profile. In this regard, our results in dairy sheep suggested that using palm fat had no evident disadvantage in terms of milk fatty acid composition compared with a diet without supplementation. Nevertheless, it had no positive effects on production or indicators of feed efficiency (for example, milk yield per unit of feed consumed). By contrast, supplementation with oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids (specifically olive oil and soybean oil) improved milk fatty acid profile, with stronger effects with the use of the most unsaturated fat: soybean oil. For example, the latter oil induced the greatest increases in fatty acids with potentially positive effects on human health (e.g., conjugated linoleic acid). In addition, from a practical point of view, the use of soybean oil might also be recommendable to improve the amount of milk produced per unit of feed consumed, compared with the use of palm fat. Lipids of different unsaturation degree were added to dairy ewe diet to test the hypothesis that unsaturated oils would modulate milk fatty acid (FA) profile without impairing or even improving feed efficiency. To this aim, we examined milk FA profile and efficiency metrics (feed conversion ratio (FCR), energy conversion ratio (ECR), residual feed intake (RFI), and residual energy intake (REI)) in 40 lactating ewes fed a diet with no lipid supplementation (Control) or supplemented with 3 fats rich in saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FA (i.e., purified palmitic acid (PA), olive oil (OO), and soybean oil (SBO)). Compared with PA, addition of OO decreased milk medium-chain saturated FA and improved the concentration of potentially health-promoting FA, such as cis-9 18:1, trans-11 18:1, cis-9 trans-11 CLA, and 4:0, with no impact on feed efficiency metrics. Nevertheless, FA analysis and decreases in FCR and ECR suggested that SBO supplementation would be a better nutritional strategy to further improve milk FA profile and feed efficiency in dairy ewes. The paradox of differences observed depending on the metric used to estimate feed efficiency (i.e., the lack of variation in RFI and REI vs. changes in FCR and ECR) does not allow solid conclusions to be drawn in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have implicated synucleins in several reactions during the biosynthesis of lipids and fatty acids in addition to their recognised role in membrane lipid binding and synaptic functions. These are among aspects of decreased synuclein functions that are still poorly acknowledged especially in regard to pathogenesis in Parkinson's disease. Here, we aimed to add to existing knowledge of synuclein deficiency (i.e., the lack of all three family members), with respect to changes in fatty acids and lipids in plasma, liver, and two brain regions in triple synuclein-knockout (TKO) mice. We describe changes of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and palmitic acid in liver and plasma, reduced triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in liver and non-esterified fatty acids in plasma of synuclein free mice. In midbrain, we observed counterbalanced changes in the relative concentrations of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cerebrosides (CER). We also recorded a notable reduction in ethanolamine plasmalogens in the midbrain of synuclein free mice, which is an important finding since the abnormal ether lipid metabolism usually associated with neurological disorders. In summary, our data demonstrates that synuclein deficiency results in alterations of the PUFA synthesis, storage lipid accumulation in the liver, and the reduction of plasmalogens and CER, those polar lipids which are principal compounds of lipid rafts in many tissues. An ablation of all three synuclein family members causes more profound changes in lipid metabolism than changes previously shown to be associated with γ-synuclein deficiency alone. Possible mechanisms by which synuclein deficiency may govern the reported modifications of lipid metabolism in TKO mice are proposed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of this paper was to apply two recently developed methods for lipid extraction: the methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) method and the BUME method. These two methods do not include halogenated solvents, which makes them less hazardous to the environment, less toxic, and needed in less volume compared to the standard methods for lipid extraction. Fatty acid composition of the lipids from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar Linnæus, 1758) was obtained by both procedures. The methods were effective and thirty-three fatty acids were identified. The amounts of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids obtained by the MTBE method were found to be similar to the overall mean values observed in farmed salmon. The yield of the total lipids obtained by the BUME method was 13% lower. Although the methods involved different solvents, they showed similar fatty acids profile of the lipids from Atlantic salmon. Both methods were validated and some practical challenges were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although game meat quality has been under the spotlight in numerous studies, the quality of brown bear (Ursus arctos) meat is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sex and age on the proximate chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and lipid indices of brown bear meat. Nine (n = 9) females and nine (n = 9) males were hunted during the Croatian spring hunting period in 2018. Based on age, bears were divided into two groups: <3 years (n = 9; five females and four males) and 4–6 years (n = 9; four females and five males). For analysis purposes, samples of M.semimembranosus were collected. Age was shown to have an effect on the traits analyzed, while sex-related differences were not found. Brown bear meat has a high fat content (average 6.12%), especially in older bears (~9%). The contents of protein, dry matter, and ash were similar to those of other game species. Monounsaturated fatty acids made up approximately 50% of all fatty acids, with the most abundant being C18:1n-9. More favorable profiles of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids were found in younger bears. The ratio of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids was closer to the recommended ratio than the ratio of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and lipid indices were favorable. Further research is needed to determine seasonal changes in brown bear meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal production factors can affect the fatty acid and volatile profile of lamb meat. The fatty acid and volatile composition of the M. longissimus thoracis was evaluated from 150 lambs from 10 groups of commercial lambs that differed in age, sex, diet and breed, from three farms, which represent typical forage lamb production systems in New Zealand. The meat from 4-month-old composite lambs slaughtered at weaning had a similar polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio compared to 6- to 8-month-old composite lambs, but a greater ratio than that of 12-month-old Merino lambs (p < 0.05), with all ratios being lower than the recommended ≥0.45. All lamb production systems produced meat with an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio below 1.5, well below the recommended ratio ≤ 4.0. Meat from 4-month-old lambs had higher C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0 and lower C18:0, reflecting the composition of the milk diet, resulting in higher atherogenic index than meat from other animal groups, while meat from 12-month-old Merino lambs, with lower content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, showed higher thrombogenic index. Meat from lambs processed at weaning contained the greatest concentration of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, which would qualify as a 'source' or 'good source' of these target fatty acids based on the Commission of Regulation of the European Union or the Food Standards Australia New Zealand guidelines, respectively. Volatiles were extracted from the headspace of raw lean meat and 36 volatile compounds were identified. The abundance of carbon disulphide, isododecane, heptanal, 2,5-hexanediol and 3-octanone and pentanoic, octanoic, nonanoic and heptanoic acids was similar between all groups of lambs. Meat from 12-month-old Merino lambs had low abundance of acetic, propanoic, butanoic and hexanoic acids, and hexanal, octanal and dimethyl sulphide. For 6- to 8-month-old composite lambs, hexanal, octanal and nonanal were present at higher relative abundance in meat from lambs that grazed on chicory than perennial ryegrass. The significant differences in the fatty acid and volatile profiles in meat from 12-month-old Merino lambs compared with lambs slaughtered at weaning or further grazed on red clover, chicory or mixed pasture may result in distinctive nutritional value and lamb flavour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Prostate cancer cells produce lipids via the activation of a specific pathway called fatty acid synthesis, also known as De novo lipogenesis. This pathway is essential for the survival and growth of most types of cancer cells, including prostate cancer. In our study, we showed that prostate cancer cells activate this lipid synthesis pathway to become more aggressive and develop resistance to commonly used therapeutic agents for advanced prostate cancer such as enzalutamide, an effective and commonly used androgen receptor (AR) targeted agent. Interestingly, by combining enzalutamide with a lipid synthesis pathway inhibitor, we were able to show that growth of prostate cancer tumors was more effectively reduced than with either agent alone. We also showed that this combination led to cell stress and death by changing the lipid content in the cell. These important findings could lead to new therapeutic strategies combining effective AR targeted therapies with lipid synthesis inhibitors for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. De novo lipogenesis (DNL) is now considered as a hallmark of cancer. The overexpression of key enzymes of DNL is characteristic of both primary and advanced disease and may play an important role in resistance to therapies. Here, we showed that DNL is highly enhanced in castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells compared to hormone sensitive and enzalutamide resistant cells. This observation suggests that this pathway plays an important role in the initiation of aggressive prostate cancer and in the development of enzalutamide resistance. Importantly, here we show that both prostate cancer cells sensitive and resistant to enzalutamide are dependent on DNL to proliferate. We next combined enzalutamide with an inhibitor of Stearoyl CoA Desaturase 1 (SCD1), an important enzyme in DNL, and observed significantly reduced tumor growth caused by the important change in tumoral lipid desaturation. Our findings suggest that the equilibrium between monounsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids is essential in the establishment of the more aggressive prostate cancer phenotype and that the combination therapy induces a disruption of this equilibrium leading to an important decrease of cell proliferation. These findings provide new insights into the role of DNL in the progression of prostate cancer cells. The study also provides the rationale for the use of an inhibitor of SCD1 in combination with enzalutamide to improve response, delay enzalutamide resistance and improve disease free progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine edible macroalgae have functional proprieties that might improve human health and wellbeing. Lipids represent a minor fraction of macroalgae, yet with major interest as main carriers of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and intrinsic bioactive properties. In this study, we used lipid extracts from the green macroalgae Ulva rigida and Codium tomentosum; the red Gracilaria gracilis,Palmaria palmata and Porphyra dioica; and the brown Fucus vesiculosus, produced in a land-based integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) system. We determined the lipid quality indices based on their fatty acid profiles and their bioactivities as putative antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative agents. The results reveal to be species-specific, namely U. rigida displayed the lowest atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices. Palmaria palmata and F. vesiculosus lipid extracts displayed the lowest inhibitory concentration in the free radical scavenging antioxidant assays. Ulva rigida, C. tomentosum, P. palmata and P. dioica inhibited COX-2 activity by up to 80%, while P. dioica and P. palmata extracts showed the highest cytotoxic potential in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. This work enhances the valorization of macroalgae as functional foods and promising ingredients for sustainable and healthy diets and fosters new applications of high-valued algal biomass, in a species-specific context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In the world context of climate change and increasing food needs, it is of vital importance to preserve genetic resources in production ecosystems. On the Italian Alps that means conservation of local cattle breeds and maintaining of traditional alpine agro-pastoral practices. In particular, positive effects, such as preservation of fauna and flora biodiversity and greater appreciation by tourists, have been shown to correlate with mountain pastures. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between different fatty acids in Original Brown cows' milk and cheese as well as the pattern of fatty acids that most contributes to discriminate between two different farming systems, in which the main difference was the practice, or not, of alpine summer-grazing. A multivariate statistical approach was used. Results indicated that the diet fed to animals, by influencing ruminal fermentation process and mammary gland de novo synthesis, is responsible for defining fatty acids characteristic profiles in dairy products. Findings also suggest that it is possible to build a reliable model based on specific fatty acids concentrations in order to identify pasture-raised or not dairy products. By this way, farmers who practice traditional agro-pastoral system could be easily recognized and adequately remunerated. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between fatty acids and the pattern that most contributes to discriminate between two farming systems, in which the main difference was the practice, or not, of alpine summer-grazing. Milk and cheese were sampled every month in two farms of Original Brown cows identical under geographical location and management during no grazing season point of view in the 2018 season. Fatty acids concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. The principal component analysis extracted three components (PCs). Mammary gland de novo synthetized fatty acids (C14:0, C14:1 n9, and C16:0) and saturated and monosaturated C18 fatty acids (C18:0, C18:1 n9c) were inversely associated in the PC1; PC2 included polyunsaturated C18 fatty acids (C18:2 n6c, C18:3 n3) and C15:0 while conjugated linoleic acid (CLA n9c, n11t) and fatty acids containing 20 or more carbon atoms (C21:0, C20:5 n3) were associated in the PC3. The processes of rumen fermentation and de novo synthesis in mammary gland that are, in turn, influenced by diet, could explain the relationships between fatty acids within each PC. The discriminant analyses showed that the PC2 included the fatty acids profile that best discriminated between the two farming systems, followed by PC3 and, lastly, PC1. This model, if validated, could be an important tool to the dairy industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of seafood has considerably increased over recent decades; however, as wild seafood stocks are limited, the cultured ones represent a possible valuable alternative. The purpose of this study was to compare wild and cultured scallops, Flexopecten glaber, on the basis of their marketability indices and biochemical characteristics. Wild and cultured specimens were harvested from the Ionian Sea (the Central Mediterranean Sea). Protein and lipid were significantly different between scallops, with the values of protein of 8.50 and 11.6 g/100 g and lipid of 1.45 and 1.70 g/100 g for wild and cultured scallops, respectively. Regarding fatty acids (FAs), statistical differences were also detected. The cultured species showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) than its wild counterpart. Eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5 n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6:3) were the major polyunsaturated fatty acids, although only DHA showed significant differences between wild and culture scallops (p < 0.05). The ratio of n3/n6 PUFA showed high values, with 2.7 and 3.1 for wild and cultured scallops, respectively. The atherogenic and thrombogenic indices and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic fatty acid ratio indicated an import role in human diet. The appreciated nutritional properties of this species could support the interest to promote its cultivation, ensuring high food nutritive value for the purchasers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) essential for human nutrition are mostly obtained from wild-caught fish. To sustain the LC-PUFA supply from natural populations, one needs to know how environmental and intrinsic factors affect fish fatty acid (FA) profiles and contents. We studied seven Salmoniformes species from two arctic lakes. We aimed to estimate differences in the FA composition of total lipids and two major lipid classes, polar lipids (PL) and triacylglycerols (TAG), among the species and to evaluate LC-PUFA contents corresponding to PL and TAG in muscles. Fatty acid profiles of PL and TAG in all species were characterized by the prevalence of omega-3 LC-PUFA and C16-C18 monoenoic FA, respectively. Fish with similar feeding spectra were identified similarly in multivariate analyses of total lipids, TAG and PL, due to differences in levels of mostly the same FA. Thus, the suitability of both TAG and total lipids for the identification of the feeding spectra of fish was confirmed. All species had similar content of LC-PUFA esterified as PL, 1.9–3.5 mg g−1, while the content of the TAG form strongly varied, from 0.9 to 9.8 mg g−1. The LC-PUFA-rich fish species accumulated these valuable compounds predominately in the TAG form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]