Changes in the plastic strength of the glaze during storage of glazed confectionery

Выявлены закономерности изменения жирнокислотного состава и пластической прочности модельных образцов глазированных конфет в процессе хранения. В ряду орехового сырья миндаль-кешью-фундук-арахис скорость уменьшения пластической прочности глазури конфет с корпусами на основе фундука и арахиса с использованием глазури лауринового типа составила 71-87 г в неделю, что на 30-40 % больше скорости уменьшения пластической прочности глазури конфет с корпусами на основе миндаля и кешью 42-46 г в неделю. Использование глазури с высоким содержанием элаидиновой кислоты позволяет уменьшить скорость изменения пластической прочности глазури на 23-29 %, по сравнению с глазурью на основе жира лауринового типа. Наименьшее изменение пластической прочности поверхности глазированных конфет (2,8 % в неделю) достигнуто для корпусов из пралиновой массы на основе миндаля и глазури, изготовленной на основе жира с высоким содержанием трансизомеризованных ненасыщенных кислот. Предложенный подход можно использовать для количественной оценки и прогнозирования скорости процессов миграции жиров в процессе хранения глазированных кондитерских изделий. Regularities of changes in fatty acid composition and plastic strength of model samples of glazed sweets during storage have been revealed. In the row of nut raw materials almonds-cashews-hazelnuts-peanuts, the ratio of the rate of decrease in the plastic strength of the glaze of candies with bodies based on hazelnuts and peanuts using lauric-type glaze was 71-87 g per week, which is 30-40% more than the rate of decrease in the plastic strength of the glaze sweets with almond and cashew-based bodies 42-46 g per week. The use of a glaze with a high content of elaidic acid can reduce the rate of change in the plastic strength of the glaze by 23-29 %, as compared to a glaze based on lauric fat. The smallest change in the plastic strength of the surface of glazed sweets (2.8 % per week) was achieved for bodies made of praline mass based on almonds and glaze made on the basis of fat with a high content of trans-isomerized unsaturated acids. The proposed approach can be used to quantify and predict the rate of fat migration processes during storage of glazed confectionery products.

Untargeted Metabolic Profiling of Extracellular Vesicles of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Patients Shows Presence of Potent Anti-Inflammatory Metabolites

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry important biomolecules, including metabolites, and contribute to the spread and pathogenesis of some viruses. However, to date, limited data are available on EV metabolite content that might play a crucial role during infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Therefore, this study aimed to perform untargeted metabolomics to identify key metabolites and associated pathways that are present in EVs, isolated from the serum of COVID-19 patients. The results showed the presence of antivirals and antibiotics such as Foscarnet, Indinavir, and lymecycline in EVs from patients treated with these drugs. Moreover, increased levels of anti-inflammatory metabolites such as LysoPS, 7-α,25-Dihydroxycholesterol, and 15-d-PGJ2 were detected in EVs from COVID-19 patients when compared with controls. Further, we found decreased levels of metabolites associated with coagulation, such as thromboxane and elaidic acid, in EVs from COVID-19 patients. These findings suggest that EVs not only carry active drug molecules but also anti-inflammatory metabolites, clearly suggesting that exosomes might play a crucial role in negotiating with heightened inflammation during COVID-19 infection. These preliminary results could also pave the way for the identification of novel metabolites that might act as critical regulators of inflammatory pathways during viral infections.

Effects of Elaidic Acid on HDL Cholesterol Uptake Capacity

Recently we established a cell-free assay to evaluate “cholesterol uptake capacity (CUC)” as a novel concept for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) functionality and demonstrated the feasibility of CUC for coronary risk stratification, although its regulatory mechanism remains unclear. HDL fluidity affects cholesterol efflux, and trans fatty acids (TFA) reduce lipid membrane fluidity when incorporated into phospholipids (PL). This study aimed to clarify the effect of TFA in HDL-PL on CUC. Serum was collected from 264 patients after coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention to measure CUC and elaidic acid levels in HDL-PL, and in vitro analysis using reconstituted HDL (rHDL) was used to determine the HDL-PL mechanism affecting CUC. CUC was positively associated with HDL-PL levels but negatively associated with the proportion of elaidic acid in HDL-PL (elaidic acid in HDL-PL/HDL-PL ratio). Increased elaidic acid-phosphatidylcholine (PC) content in rHDL exhibited no change in particle size or CUC compared to rHDL containing oleic acid in PC. Recombinant human lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) enhanced CUC, and LCAT-dependent enhancement of CUC and LCAT-dependent cholesterol esterification were suppressed in rHDL containing elaidic acid in PC. Therefore, CUC is affected by HDL-PL concentration, HDL-PL acyl group composition, and LCAT-dependent cholesterol esterification. Elaidic acid precipitated an inhibition of cholesterol uptake and maturation of HDL; therefore, modulation of HDL-PL acyl groups could improve CUC.

NMR Spectroscopic Study of Chemical Reactions in Mixtures Containing Oleic Acid, Formic Acid, and Formoxystearic Acid

Oleic acid (OA) and formic acid (FA) react to formoxystearic acid (FSA), in the presence of acidic catalysts.This reaction is of interest as OA can be obtained from renewable resources and FSA is a potential precursor for biopolymers.We have recently studied the liquid−liquid equilibrium (LLE) in the uncatalyzed nonreacting system OA + FA + FSA. Thiswork is extended here to the reactive system, in which a reactive liquid−liquid equilibrium (RLLE) exists. The reactionequilibrium is studied by quantitative NMR spectroscopy at temperatures between 333 and 353 K in homogeneous OA-richmixtures. This information is combined with that on the LLE to determine the RLLE. The physicochemical equilibria aremodeled in a thermodynamically consistent way using the associating lattice cluster theory (ALCT). Furthermore, data on thechemical equilibrium of the formation of the OA-isomer elaidic acid (EA) is supplied. Also the decomposition of FA and theformation of estolides (EL), which are oligomers of OA and EA, was observed and quantified.

Dietary intake of trans fatty acids and breast cancer risk in 9 European countries

Background Trans fatty acids (TFAs) have been hypothesised to influence breast cancer risk. However, relatively few prospective studies have examined this relationship, and well-powered analyses according to hormone receptor-defined molecular subtypes, menopausal status, and body size have rarely been conducted. Methods In the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), we investigated the associations between dietary intakes of TFAs (industrial trans fatty acids [ITFAs] and ruminant trans fatty acids [RTFAs]) and breast cancer risk among 318,607 women. Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for other breast cancer risk factors. Results After a median follow-up of 8.1 years, 13,241 breast cancer cases occurred. In the multivariable-adjusted model, higher total ITFA intake was associated with elevated breast cancer risk (HR for highest vs lowest quintile, 1.14, 95% CI 1.06–1.23; P trend = 0.001). A similar positive association was found between intake of elaidic acid, the predominant ITFA, and breast cancer risk (HR for highest vs lowest quintile, 1.14, 95% CI 1.06–1.23; P trend = 0.001). Intake of total RTFAs was also associated with higher breast cancer risk (HR for highest vs lowest quintile, 1.09, 95% CI 1.01–1.17; P trend = 0.015). For individual RTFAs, we found positive associations with breast cancer risk for dietary intakes of two strongly correlated fatty acids (Spearman correlation r = 0.77), conjugated linoleic acid (HR for highest vs lowest quintile, 1.11, 95% CI 1.03–1.20; P trend = 0.001) and palmitelaidic acid (HR for highest vs lowest quintile, 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.16; P trend = 0.028). Similar associations were found for total ITFAs and RTFAs with breast cancer risk according to menopausal status, body mass index, and breast cancer subtypes. Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that higher dietary intakes of ITFAs, in particular elaidic acid, are associated with elevated breast cancer risk. Due to the high correlation between conjugated linoleic acid and palmitelaidic acid, we were unable to disentangle the positive associations found for these fatty acids with breast cancer risk. Further mechanistic studies are needed to identify biological pathways that may underlie these associations.

Nonesterified Fatty Acids and Depression in Cancer Patients and Caregivers

ABSTRACT Background Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are known to have inflammatory effects. The inflammatory hypothesis of depression suggests that omega-3 (ω-3) and omega-6 (ω-6) fatty acids might be negatively and positively correlated with depression, respectively. Objective An exploratory study was conducted to determine the association between dietary free fatty acids and depressive symptoms in cancer patients and caregivers. Methods Associations between depression and the NEFA pool were investigated in 56 cancer patients and 23 caregivers using a combination of nonparametric tests and regularized regression. Plasma NEFAs were measured using thin layer and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Depression was characterized both as a continuous severity score using the GRID-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (GRID Ham-D), and as a categorical diagnosis of major depression by structured clinical interview. Results Initial hypotheses regarding the relation between depression and omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids were not well supported. However, elaidic acid, a trans-unsaturated fatty acid found in hydrogenated vegetable oils, was found to be negatively correlated with continuous depression scores in cancer patients. No significant associations were found in caregivers. Conclusions An unexpected negative association between elaidic acid and depression was identified, supporting recent literature on the role of G protein–coupled receptors in depression. Further research is needed to confirm this result and to evaluate the potential role of G protein agonists as therapeutic agents for depression in cancer patients.