Effect of drying conditions on bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.)

The effect of air-drying parameters on antioxidant activity and changes in antioxidant compounds ofbroccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) were studied. Broccoli samples were dried to 70 g kg?1 moisture content usingtemperatures ranging from 50 to 100 ?C and air flow-rates from 1.20 to 2.25m s?1, resulting in drying times from25 to 90 min. Temperature, owing to its positive effect on the oxidation kinetics, was negatively correlated withascorbic acid and free and total polyphenol contents but not with kaempferol, even though the sample driedat the highest temperature showed the lowest kaempferol content. The air flow-rate was positively correlatedwith the total (TPP) and free (FPP) polyphenol contents because it led to a reduction in the drying time. Nocorrelation was found between air flow-rate and kaempferol content. Air flow-rate and temperature positivelyaffected the antioxidant activity by reducing the drying time. High-temperature, short-time processes maximisedthe antioxidant activity of broccoli owing to the negative effect of drying time on antioxidant activity. Theantioxidant activity of broccoli was positively and significantly correlated with the FPP content but not with TPPand kaempferol. The evaluation of hydroxymethylfurfural content as an indicator of the occurrence of a Maillardreaction in dried broccoli did not support the hypothesis of a contribution of MRPs to the antioxidant activity ofdried broccoli.`a[...

β-Cryptoxanthin–Biofortified Hen Eggs Enhance Vitamin A Status When Fed to Male Mongolian Gerbils

Background Consumption of provitamin A carotenoid biofortified crops, such as maize, supports vitamin A (VA) status in animals and humans. Laying hens that consume β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified maize deposit β-cryptoxanthin into egg yolk. Objective We investigated whether β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified egg consumption would affect VA status of male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) compared with white-yolked eggs. Methods β-Cryptoxanthin–biofortified egg yolk, produced in hens fed biofortified orange maize or tangerine-fortified maize feeds, was freeze-dried and fed to gerbils. White-yolked eggs were produced by feeding white maize to hens. Gerbils (n = 57) were fed VA-deficient feed for 28 d. After baseline (n = 7), treatments (n = 10/group) included oil control (VA−); 16.7% orange maize–biofortified, tangerine-fortified, or white-yolk egg feeds; or retinyl acetate as positive control (VA+) matched to daily preformed retinol intake from the eggs for 30 d. Preformed retinol did not differ between the egg yolks. Gerbil liver retinol, lipid, fatty acids, and cholesterol were determined. Results Liver retinol concentration (0.13 ± 0.03 µmol/g) and total hepatic VA (0.52 ± 0.12 µmol) were higher in gerbils fed orange maize–biofortified eggs than in all other groups. The VA− group was severely VA deficient (0.018 ±0.010 µmol/g; P \u3c 0.05). Liver retinol was similar among VA+, tangerine-egg–, and white-egg–fed gerbils, but retinol reserves were higher in tangerine-egg–fed gerbils (0.35 ± 0.11 μmol) than in VA+ or VA− gerbils or at baseline (P \u3c 0.05). Liver fat was 3.6 times (P \u3c 0.0001) and cholesterol was 2.1 times (P \u3c 0.004) higher in egg-fed groups that experienced hepatosteatosis. Liver fatty acid profiles reflected feed, but retinyl ester fatty acids did not. Conclusions The preformed retinol in the eggs enhanced gerbil VA status, and the β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified eggs from hens fed orange maize prevented deficiency. Biofortified maize can enhance VA status when consumed directly or through products from livestock fed orange maize

High-Provitamin A Carotenoid (Orange) Maize Increases Hepatic Vitamin A Reserves of Offspring in a Vitamin A-Depleted Sow-Piglet Model during Lactation

The relationship of dietary vitamin A transfer from mother to fetus is not well understood. The difference in swine offspring liver reserves was investigated between single-dose vitamin A provided to the mother post-conception compared with continuous provitamin A carotenoid dietary intake from biofortified (enhanced provitamin A) orange maize (OM) fed during gestation and lactation. Vitamin A-depleted sows were fed OM (n = 5) or white maize (WM) + 1.05 mmol retinyl palmitate administered at the beginning of gestation (n = 6). Piglets (n = 102) were killed at 0, 10, 20, and 28 d after birth. Piglets from sows fed OM had higher liver retinol reserves (P \u3c 0.0001) and a combined mean concentration from d 10 to 28 of 0.11 ± 0.030 μmol/g. Piglets from sows fed WM had higher serum retinol concentrations (0.56 ± 0.25 μmol/L; P = 0.0098) despite lower liver retinol concentrations of 0.068 ± 0.026 μmol/g from d 10 to 28. Milk was collected at 0, 5, 10, 20, and 28 d. Sows fed OM had a higher milk retinol concentration (1.36 ± 1.30 μmol/L; P = 0.038), than those fed WM (0.93 ±1.03 μmol/L). Sow livers were collected at the end of the study (n = 3/group) and had identical retinol concentrations (0.22 ± 0.05 μmol/g). Consumption of daily provitamin A carotenoids by sows during gestation and lactation increased liver retinol status in weanling piglets, illustrating the potential for provitamin A carotenoid consumption from biofortified staple foods to improve vitamin A reserves. Biofortified OM could have a measurable impact on vitamin A status in deficient populations if widely adopted