Antonella Caforio has completed her Bachelor and Master studies at the age of 24 years at the University of Parma (Italy) and she is now at the final stage of her PhD in Molecular Microbiology at the University of Groningen (The Netherlands). Up to know she has published three papers in scientific journals and one is still under reviewing

The membrane lipid composition of Archaea differs from Bacteria and Eukarya in having an ether-linked, isoprenoid hydrocarbon chain with enantiomer sn-glycerol-1-phosphate backbone. This unique structure is believed to be vital for the adaptation of these organisms to extreme environments and it reflects an evolutionary marker that distinguishes archaea from bacteria and eukaryotes. The aim of this project is to functionally introduce the archaeal ether-lipid biosynthetic pathway into Escherichia coli to create an Archeabacterium with improved tolerance to toxic compounds, to study the archaeal lipid biosynthesis and the evolutionary aspects associated with the lipid divide. Using a synthetic biology approach, upstream and downstream modules of the pathway were designed that consist of enzymes involved in the flux of the carbon source for the synthesis of the isoprenoid hydrocarbon chain and to synthesize CDP archaeol, the precursor for polar head group attachment. The latter ether-lipid is produced by a recent discovered gene encoding for CDP-archaeol synthase. The bacterial enzymes involved in the attachment of the L-serine and glycerol as polar head groups were examined due to their promiscuity in recognizing either archaeal or bacterial substrates. In vivo and in vitro assays were performed to access the enzymatic activities using chromatography and mass-spectrometry techniques in order to identify the archaeal ether lipids archaeatidylethanolamine (AE) and archaetidylglycerlol (AG). Using a combination of mutated bacterial and archaeal enzymes, these two archaeal lipids were produced in E. coli. Moreover, their formation can be reconstituted in vitro from basic building blocks and a set of purified enzymes

Kylie Connolly is a PhD student at CQUniversity, Australia, currently researching the prevention of cardiovascular dysfunction in animal models of obesity, hypertension and metabolic syndrome using the polyphenolic flavonoid epicatechin in comparison with the traditional ACE inhibitor perindopril

Background: Consumption of high-fat-high-carbohydrate (HFHC) diets increases the risk of developing obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Hallmarks of such conditions include increased triglycerides, cholesterol, inflammation and oxidative stress in addition to increases in procollagen type 1 content that leads to remodelling of cardiac tissue. This study aimed to assess metabolic paramaters associated with HFHC diet induced obesity in a spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model of metabolic syndrome. Method: Male SHR and WKY rats aged 16 weeks were fed a HFHC (23.9% fat, 51.5% carb) diet or standard chow (SC) for 20 weeks. Body weights and food intake were recorded weekly. After eutnanisation at 36 weeks of age, blood samples were taken for analysis of interleukin-6, nitric oxide, 8-isoprostane, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, total cholesterol and procollagen type 1. Results: Serum LDL (mg/dL) was increased in SHR-HFHC rats (123.06±8.32) compared to SC rats (54.44±3.50), as were triglyceride levels (mg/dL) (SHR-HFHC 1370.51±75.57; SC 181.30±21.04) and total cholesterol (SHR-HFHC 411.91±28.88; SC 137.01±4.26). HDL levels (mg/dL) were increased in WKY-HFHC rats (64.68±7.90) compared to SC rats (46.31±5.06) but decreased in SHR-HFHC rats (21.10±4.47). Procollagen type 1 concentration (mU) was increased in SHR-HFHC rats (0.860±0.030) compared to SC rats (0.741±0.026). Concentration of 8-isoprostane (pg/mL) was increased in SHR-HFHC rats (228.04±10.38) compared to SC rats (119.67±17.49). No change was observed in nitric oxide levels. Conclusions: HFHC feeding induces obesity and alters lipid profile, oxidative stress status and induces cardiac remodelling in SHR and WKY rats. The adverse effects of a HFHC diet are enhanced with the co-occurrence of hypertension.

Payam Vahmani completed his PhD in 2013 at Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia, Canada) under the advisement of Dr. Alan Fredeen and he then joined Dr. Mike Dugan’s lab at the Lacombe Research Centre (Lacombe, AB, Canada) as an NSERC research fellow. His PhD research revolved around enriching long chain omega-3 fatty acids in milk and milk products through cow nutrition, and in Dr. Dugan’s lab he’s involved in studies to enrich omega-3’s and their biohydrogenation products in beef, and testing health effects of these products in cell culture and disease models

Dietary trans (t) fatty acids, particularly t-18:1 have been generally associated with increased risk of heart disease, principally through elevated plasma LDL cholesterol and reduced HDL- cholesterol. The objective of this study was to use a human liver cell line (HepG2) to elucidate hepatic response to t-18:1 isolated from beef fat of cattle fed a conventional barley-grain diet or a flaxseed supplemented grass hay-based diet. Beef fat was derivatized to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), then t-18:1 isomers were isolated using silver ion solid phase extraction (Ag+SPE). The t-18:1 from barley grain fed beef contained 70% t10-18:1, while the fraction from flaxseed fed beef in a grass-based diet contained t11-, t13- and t14-18:1 (19% t11 + 46% combined t13/t14 ). The t-18:1 FAME were saponified to free fatty acids which were then complexed to bovine serum albumin before added to cell cultures. HepG2 cells were incubated for 24h with 100 µM t-18:1 fractions or c9-18:1 as a control. Global gene expression was analyzed using PrimeView Human Gene Expression Array (Affymetrix, CA) covering more than 20,000 genes. Functional analyses revealed that t-18:1 from beef fed the conventional barley-grain diet upregulated genes involved in stress response (7 genes), apoptosis (21 genes), lipid and cholesterol syntheses (15 genes), while gene expression when culturing HepG2 cells with t-18:1 from grass hay/flaxseed fed beef was not different from c9-18:1. The adverse effects observed with t10-18:1 rich fraction from beef fed high-grain on hepatocytes is similar to what previously reported for t9-18:1, the predominant trans fatty acid in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils

Ratchada Auyyuenyomg has been receiving a scholarship from the Royal Thai Government as a PhD candidate at the University of Potsdam, Germany. She is the Lecturer of Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Thailand. She is interested in disturbances of lipid metabolism and-related diseases

Phospholipids (PL) are important structural elements and involved in several signal transductions including insulin signaling. Changes in the distribution of PL fractions may therefore affect insulin receptor function and signaling. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the concentration of serum PLs and the distribution of PL fractions before and after a body weight reduction program (BWRP) in obese ponies and to analyze its association with insulin resistance (IR). Phospholipids were analyzed by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) in serum of sixteen mature obese ponies, aged 3-20 years, before and after 14 weeks of BWRP. Seven of 15 obese ponies had IR at the beginning of BWRP. Concentrations of phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine were quantified densitometrically after separation. The 14-week BWRP resulted in an average weight loss of 14.1 ± 3.64%, which was accompanied by an increase of serum sphingomyelin (p<0.001). The other PL classes were unchanged during BWRP. Seven out of 15 obese ponies still had IR after BWRP and 9 out of 15 obese ponies had improved insulin sensitivity. Significantly higher concentration of sphingomyelin was found in serum of insulin sensitive ponies after BWRP (p<0.01). The findings suggest that sphingomyelin plays an important role as a precursor in sphingolipid signaling pathway and thus in the development and pathogenesis of IR and the progression of metabolic syndrome in obese ponies

Ritsuko Kawarada received PhD in graduate school of medicine from Gunma University and MA and BA in graduate school of nutrition from Kagawa Nutrition University in Japan. In the past research, we studied effect of a high-fat diet on diabetic mother rats and their offspring through three generations. Our current research investigates effect of eicosapentaenoic on cardiac muscle of infants of diabetic mother rats

Background & Aims: Infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) also have abnormal circulatory organs. When we investigated the insulin signalling pathway in a newborn rat heart, we observed abnormalities in the Akt/mTOR pathway. However, we have previously reported that an abnormal insulin signalling in the hearts of IDM improved by feeding the pregnant mothers a fish oil-rich diet. In the present study, we aim to clarify that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) improves the insulin signalling in the the hearts of IDM. Materials & Methods: Pregnant diabetic rats were first administered streptozotocin and then fed via gastric tube EPA (IDM/EPA) or water (IDM). Infants of normal mothers were designated control infants (control). To examine the changes in insulin signaling in the cardiac muscles of IDM, we isolated the heart. Results: No differences were observed in blood glucose levels on postnatal day 4 among all infants. Phosphorylation levels of Akt473 and FOXO1 significantly decreased in IDM compared with those in control. Phosphorylation levels of Akt473 and FOXO1 in IDM/EPA significantly increased compared with those in IDM. The expression level of mTOR decreased in IDM compared with that in control. When EPA was administered, the expression level of mTOR increased in IDM/EPA compared with that in IDM. Furthermore, the ratio of GLUT-4 to insulin-stimulated translocation in PNCC decreased in IDM compared with that in control; however, it increased in IDM/EPA. Conclusion: EPA in fish oil may improve the impaired signalling pathway in the cardiac muscles of IDM, which occurs because of hyperglycemic diabetic mothers.

Romeo Batacan Jr. completed his degree in Medicine at the University of the Philippines Manila in 2001. He is currently awarded a three-year Doctorate scholarship grant under the Biomedical Science program at CQ University Australia working on the mechanisms linking sitting activity to cardiometabolic risks

Cardiometabolic disorder (CMD) has progressively become a global public health concern because of its association with increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Recent studies suggest that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can induce physiological adaptations that may reduce CMD risk. There is however, limited evidence showing HIIT can improve cardiometabolic markers in obese individuals. This study investigated the effects of light intensity training and HIIT on biometric indices, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, vascular and cardiac function on high-fat high-carbohydrate (HFHC) fed adult rats. Three groups (n=12 per group) were used in this study: control (no exercise), light-intensity trained (four 30 min exercise at 8 m/min separated by 2-hr rest period, 5 days/wk) and high-intensity interval trained (four 2.5 min work bouts at 10% grade, 50 m/min, separated by 3-min rest period, 5 days/wk). HFHC feeding and physical activity interventions were started on 12-week old Wistar rats for a period of 12 weeks. Compared to the control group, the light-intensity trained group showed no significant change in all experimental parameters. High-intensity interval trained group showed no change in biometric indices, glucose, insulin, lipid profile, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, and cardiac function but enhanced mesenteric vessel contractile response to noradrenaline and improved relaxation response to acetylcholine. In this study, light intensity training did not alter any of the measured outcomes and HIIT only altered vessel contractility. The lack of changes induced may be due to a lack of training stimulus produced by the intervals used.

Tuna is deep sea fish，fish oil rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially in rich of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with high biological activity, and DHA is called of "brain gold". The tuna crude fish oil is full of impurities, deep colour and high degree of oxidation in traditional extract methods. Besides, the post-processing technology was complicated, and it`s not only pollutely but destroy unsaturated double bond by using of strong acid and alkali. In china, tuna oil products market started relatively late, and product is poor of quality, so it`s market potential is large. Tuna production runs huge every year, the process of production and processing will produce a large number of scraps. In order to improve the efficiency of the use of fish oil, this research is selection of tuna crude fish oil as raw material, the result is as follows: Firstly, the tuna raw fish oil fatty acid composition and content are analyzed; the physicochemical property, protein content and heavy metal content are measured. The results show that tuna oil is rich of DHA(23.89%) and EPA(5.11%), Polyunsaturated fatty acid is content of 42.99%. Moisture and volatile matter content in the raw fish oils are very low, which is 0.78% and 1.12%, and the acid value and peroxide value is high, which is 18.41mg/g and 15.36mg/g. Raw fish oils is without detection of mercury, arsenic, lead and other heavy metals. Secondly, in order to explore effective ways to refine fish oil and establish rapid detection technology, supercritical CO2 extraction was used to refine raw fish oil. Rely on the existing evaluation indexes of oil oxidation degree, electronic nose and headspace-solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the volatiles of tuna fish oil which was extracted differently. The results show that the AV and POV of the products of fish oil meet the requirements of industry standard, and the AV is the lowest by 32℃，20MPa ，the POV is the lowest by 32℃，30MPa as well as by 40℃，20MPa，and electronic nose can be sensitive to detect the volatiles` change of fish oil. The volatiles of crude fish oil, and which were tested by 32℃，20MPa, 32℃，30 MPa and 40°C 20MPa were significantly different by PCA and LDA methods. Thirdly, the technology of enrichment of ω-3 fatty acids from fish oil with molecular distillation was studied. The total content of ω-3 fatty acids of the product and the product yield of heavy separator is 70.78% and 10.1%, respectively, processing with three stage molecular distillation. It is not obvious the oxidation degree of monounsaturated fatty acid influenced by reaction time in the reaction of ethyl ester of fish oil. But which can improve the oxidation degree of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Lastly, enrichment of molecular distillation and purification of fish oil ethyl ester in vitro culture of human colon cancer cells HT-29 was studied. After 24 hours, the inhibition rate of HT-29 cells increased significantly with the increase of the fish oil concentration. When the fish oil concentration is 150 μg/mL, the apoptosis rate of cell is 21.49%, and it blocks the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase.

Shiva Emami is a PhD student of Food Chemistry at University of Tabriz, working currently as a research exchange scholar at University of California Davis, Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science.

Liposomes are attractive encapsulation systems that provide enhanced stability of encapsulated materials against a range of environmental, enzymatic, and chemical stresses. Substitution of cholesterol with plant sterols (phytosterols) in liposomes structure has attracted great attention due to health effects. Incorporation of phytosterols in liposome structure may also solve the problems related to the direct addition of phytosterols to food products due to their high-melting point and tendency to form insoluble crystals. In this study, a phytosterol mixture (with > 70% β-sitosterol) was incorporated into soy phosphatidylcholine vesicles as a substitute for cholesterol. Small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) were prepared using a modified ethanol injection method to entrap cyanocobalamin as a model hydrophilic molecule. Liposomes were prepared using a total lipid concentration of 20 μmol/ ml ethanol, injected into 70 mL of distilled water under homogenizer mixing (20,000 rpm), with phospholipid:phytosterol molar ratio of 2:1 and phospholipid:cholesterol molar ratio of 4:1. All of the formulations showed an initial average diameter between 43 to 70 nm, reaching up to 100 nm after 4 weeks storage period at 4 °C. Encapsulation efficiency of phytosterol containing liposomes was found about 45% compared to 52% of cholesterol containing vesicles. Decreased encapsulation efficiency of about 10-15% was observed during 4 weeks storage period. Overall, results of this study indicated stable small size of phytosterol containing liposomes, with acceptable encapsulation efficiency. Therefore, phytosterols can be applied as a substitute for cholesterol to prepare liposomal formulations using ethanol injection method, a simple and easy industrial scale-up method, with good stability and physicochemical properties

Zoltan Pataj has received his PhD in Analytical Chemsitry in 2011 from University of Szeged, Hungary. He was working as PostDoc researcher in Olomouc, Czech Republic and Tübingen, Germany. He is a Humboldt fellow at the University Hospital in Regensburg.

The aim of the current study was to develop a reliable, robust and fast method for the quantification of oxysterols in biological fluids by liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/HR-MS). Here, a short, sensitive and specific LC-MS/HR-MS method has been developed for the quantification of 7α-, 7β-, 4β-, 24-, 25-, 27-hydroxycholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol and cholestan-3β,5α,6β-triol. Sample preparation included a saponification step, liquid/liquid extraction, and derivatization with N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG). Baseline chromatographic separation of the isobaric compounds was achieved. The mass analyzer was a quadrupole-Orbitrap hybrid instrument (QExactive, Thermo Fisher Scientific). We applied full scan, targeted selected ion monitoring (SIM) and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). Neither full scan nor SIM gave convincing signals due to base line noise and unspecific signals. Only the exploitation of a collision induced dissociation in the HCD cell in combination with mass resolution setting of 35,000 resulted in high abundant signals for low concentrations and linear calibration lines by multiplexing with the corresponding deuterated internal standard. The run time is 7.8 min. This run-time meets the expectations of routine analysis and to our knowledge this is one of the shortest methods for the analysis of oxysterols. LOD and LOQ were determined by functional testing with serial dilutions of control and calibrator samples. LOQ for all oxysterols were found below 1 ng/ml. The method has been successfully applied to determine the concentrations of oxysterols in human plasma from patients with cardiovascular disease and to compare these results with control samples.

Tae-Joon Jeon has completed his PhD from University of California, Los Angeles. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Engineering and the Vice Director of Biohybrid Systems Research Center at Inha University, Korea. He has published more than 40 papers in reputed journals including Analytical Chemistry, Scientific Reports, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and PNAS

A lipid bilayer membrane as a model cell membrane is used in a variety of biophysical studies including activities of ion channel/membrane proteins and lipid-lipid/lipid-protein interactions. In addition, ion channel integrated membranes provide versatile platforms for biosensing at the single molecular level. In this study, we have established two model membrane platforms. A planar lipid bilayer allows us to measure ion current across the membrane in a very quantitative manner. Furthermore, we are able to study ion transport across the membrane in a low salt condition. To elucidate molecular interactions of ion channels and the membranes, we used gramicidin A as a model ion channel, which create cation selective channels when they are dimerized. Each monomers freely diffuses laterally along the membrane. Perturbation of the membrane due to small molecules may change the free energy of gA dimerization, which can be measured by electrical current, as well as ion transport across the membrane. We will show how the small molecules are interfering with membranes and ion channels

Dr Manish Khanolkar has completed his specialist training in Diabetes and Endocrinology from the UK in 2009. He was awarded MD from Cardiff University for his work on ‘Effects of insulin sensitizing therapy on platelet, vascular function and blood pressure in type 2 diabetes’. He is currently employed as a Consultant Physician and Diabetologist at Auckland Diabetes Centre, NZ

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is often associated with metabolic syndrome that is characterised by a peculiar dyslipidaemia comprising of elevated serum triglyceride levels in association with low HDL-Cholesterol levels (HDL-C). This disordered metabolic state leads to a build up of fatty acids in the liver and skeletal muscles, making these tissues resistant to the effects of insulin. The initial response of the body to insulin resistance is to increase insulin production that is effected by the beta cells of pancreas. Eventually, the beta cells are overwhelmed and can no longer produce enough insulin to maintain normoglycaemia, leading to the development of T2D. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors that act as transcription regulators of various genes involved in energy metabolism. PPAR α and γ are the most studied and their agonists have been in use to treat both, T2D and dyslipidaemia. These agents have shown positive effects on multiple surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, more recently, these agents have also demonstrated beneficial effects on hard clinical end points such as retinopathy as in the FIELD study. Although these metabolic benefits of PPAR agonists are mainly mediated through their genomic effects, our work has shown that some effects are potentially mediated through non-genomic effects as well. This is particularly well demonstrated in the enucleate platelet. We not only demonstrated the prescence of PPAR receptors in human platelets, but also that activating them has the potential to alter platelet aggregation and activation.

Masoumeh Karimpour is a PhD student at Umeå University working on non-targeted Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry methods focusing on effects of exposure on human metabolite profiles, mainly covering lipids, amino acids, sugars and organic acids

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel mainly consisting of esters, whereas petrodiesel is mainly paraffinic and aromatic. Replacing petrodiesel with biodiesel may have beneficial effects in ecology; however, public health effects are still unknown. In this project our goal was to study the effect of exposure to rapeseed methyl ester biodiesel and petrodiesel (DE) exhausts on human plasma metabolites. 19 non-smoking healthy males were exposed to DE or biodiesel exhaust for one hour in a randomized order. Peripheral blood was sampled at five time points: pre-exposure as well as two, four, eight and 24 hours post-exposure. A methanol/water based protocol was used on the plasma samples for extraction of low molecular compounds (<900 Da). This was followed by derivatization and analysis using gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS). Using in-house script, data were processed which enabled identification and quantification of 73 metabolites, including 14 lipids. As a part of data analysis, univariate, ANOVA and multivariate analysis were used to examine the results and highlight metabolite, including lipid, profiles characteristic of each type of exposure in relation to its time of sampling. Preliminary results showed different responses in some lipid profiles e.g. octadecanoic acid after biodiesel exhaust exposure compared to DE exhaust exposure. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a randomized controlled trial followed by metabolomics analyses has been performed to investigate the effect of biodiesel exhaust exposure on human plasma metabolite/lipid profiles

Bing Li is a professor of Saccharide Engineering at the South China University of Technology where she has been a faculty member since 1997. Li’s research is focused on a variety of issues related to functional foods. These include functional lipid, saccharide and peptide. She has published over 90 papers in peer-reviewed journals ranging from Food and Bioprocess Technology to Food and Chemical Toxicology, Food Research International, European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology etc. Her research interests include the functional lipid manufactory and its structure and functional evaluation, formation and inhibition of the hazardous food-derived glycation products, the separation and purification of bioactive substance (such as peptide or saccharides with lowing blood sugar activity) from Chinese herbs, etc.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), products of Maillard reaction are related to the diabetic microvascular complications of retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. Clinical evidences have shown that long chronic take-up food-AGEs would aggravate the complication of diabetics. Therefore, understanding the formation of Nε-carboxymethyl lysine (CML), a marker of AGEs, in foods rich of lipids is of importance. It was proved that hydroxyl radical (OH•) induced by Fenton reagent could promote CML formation in Lysine (Lys)+Glucose (Glu)+Fenton model system and Lys+Glyoxal (GO)+Fenton model system. The effect of Linoleic acid (Lin), Oleic acid (Ole), Trioleate (Tri) and Glycerol (Gly) on OH•, CML, Fructose lysine (FL), GO and Glu content in Lys+Glu+Lipid model system and the effect of Lin, Ole, Tri and Gly on CML and glyoxalic acid (GOA) content in Lys+GO+Lipid model system were determined. It was shown that OH• induced by Fenton reagent could promote three pathways for CML formation in Maillard reaction. Lin, Ole and Tri could induce more OH• in Maillard reaction model system which promoted FL and GO conversion to CML. However, Gly could reduce CML content in model system for its scavenging OH• ability. The promoting CML formation abilities of lipids on modeling system were in the order of Lys+Glu+Ole>Lys+Glu+Lin>Lys+Glu+Tri>Lys+Glu>Lys+Glu+Gly. The effect of five oilson OH•, CML, FL and GO content in Lys+Glu+Oil model system was studied. It was shown that vegetable oils including Soybean oil, Corn oil, Olive oil, Palm oil and Rape oil could induce more OH• in Maillard reaction model system which promoted FL and GO conversion to CML. The promotion effect of five oils on CML formation was in the order of Soybean oil>Corn oil>Olive oil>Palm oil>Rape oil.

Liu Guoqin is a professor of Light Industry and Food Science Department at South China University of Technology. Her major is Grain, Oil and Vegetable Protein. Her research interests are nutrition and safety of oil and fat. Her research achievement has been published more than 100 academic articles and 3 food books in a number of different journals and food book system. She has got more than 20 patents for inventions. At present, she is holding six research projects including China Government project and Guangdong Province Projects. In addition to his teaching and researching job, she is a reviewer of several journals and books, and she is frequently an invited speaker for professional and civic organizations

The compatibility and non-isothermal crystallization properties of oils and fats have important effects on the taste and quality. For extension application scope of coconut and palm stearic oil, development special oil products based on them,Gas phase mass spectrum measured coconut oil and palm stearin oil with different mixing proportion of total fatty acids and Sn - two fatty acid composition of the fatty acid composition and melting characteristics of correlation,the compatibility of coconut oil and palm stearic oil, and the non-isothermal crystallization behavior of different proportions Physical blend oil and enzymatic preparation of structure lipid of the combined systems have studied by Pulsed NMR and DSC respectively. The results showed Different proportions of enzymatic preparation structure Sn-2lauric acid content (12.35-46.72%) is significantly higher than physical blend oil (5.86-30.75%).that there was a certain degree of eutectic phenomenon in complex system on the whole, and at a higher temperature (25-45℃) had better compatibility. In the process of non-isothermal crystallization, the double chain lengthβ′crystals changed for three chain lengthβ′crystalsoflow-melting-pointof proportion of coconut oil under the same cooling rate.

Shortenings are usually fats composed of oil, whose nutritional and functional properties have been modified to provide desirable textural properties to a food product. Palm oil (PO) which is considered health without trans fatty acid is commonly used as one of the ingredients of the fat phase in shortening due to its easy availability, excellent physical characteristics, and price competitiveness. However, PO-based shortenings experienced undesirable textural property changes due to the unstable temperature during transportation and storage. In this study, two model palm oil-based shortenings which are denoted as shortening A (melting point of 43.51C) and shortening B (melting point of 53.54C) were used, and their solid fat content and hardness during storage at constant temperatures (0°C, 10°C, 20°C, 30°C, 40°C, respectively) and fluctuant temperatures (0°C 12 h-20°C 12 h, 10°C 12 h-20°C 12 h, 30°C 12 h-20°C 12 h, 40°C 12 h-20°C 12 h, respectively for a cycle) for 28 days were evaluated by pulsed Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Texture Analysis. The relationship between hardness and solid fat content of model PO-based shortenings was discussed. When stored at constant temperature, as the temperature increased, the solid fat content values of two PO-based shortenings have been found to decrease linearly, the hardness decreased in an exponential manner; with the extension of the storage time, the solid fat content values of the two PO-based model shortenings did not change, the hardness increased when the temperature ≤ 20°C and decreased when the temperature > 20°C. When stored at fluctuant temperatures, as the temperature increased, the solid fat content values of two model PO-based shortenings were constant in the temperature range from 0°C to 20°C and then decreased (30°C-40°C), the hardness decreased when the temperature was higher than 10°C; with the extension of the storage time, the solid fat content values of the two PO-based model shortenings did not change and the hardness decreased in a logarithmic manner. For hardness and solid fat content, their changes with storage time and temperature are different, indicating a positive relation exists between them. These findings have important implications on the storage stability and functional properties of palm oil-based shortenings.

Alessandra Casanova has completed her Nutritionist Career in 2012 from Autonomous University of Nuevo León, México. At the present time, she is doing her master’s degree in Natural Resources Management with special interests in public health and environmental challenges in Mexican obesity epidemiology.

Highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) such as arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) are required for neurological development in infants, who cannot synthesize HUFA and have to obtain them from breast milk, a biological fluid strongly influenced by maternal diet and reserves. To our knowledge, there are not many studies that evaluate the effect of maternal condition on breast milk. In this study, 135 human milk samples were collected from Mexican women to evaluate their HUFA composition in relation with their Energetic Nutritional Status(ENS). While 34.8% (n=47) had a normal weight, 2.2% (n=3) were underweight, 33.3% (n=45) overweight and 28% (n=38) obese. Only two women showed morbidly obese. We found that HUFA levels in the neutral (mainly acylglycerides) and polar (mainly phospholipids) lipids in the breast milk were affected by the maternal ENS. Contrary to our expectations, no correlation was found for the ENS and the n-3/n-6 ratio, but a positive correlation was found for Body Mass Index (BMI) and the saturation index in the polar fraction (r=0.34; P<0.05). In addition, ARA levels in the polar fraction were highest in the breast milk of obese woman, followed by overweight woman, and lowest in the breast milk of underweight woman. This positive correlation might have an effect on the pattern of infant adipose tissue development that can eventually promote childhood obesity, but this effect might be overturned by the increase in n-3 fatty acids, that have an anti-adipogenic effect.