The nonenzymatic browning reactions of fructose and fructose-lysine aqueous model systems were investigated at 100 Њ Њ Њ Њ ЊC between pH 4.0 and pH 12.0 by measuring the loss of reactants and monitoring the pattern of UV-absorbance and brown color development. At all the pH values tested, the loss of fructose was lower in the presence than in the absence of lysine. And, in lysine-containing fructose solution, the sugar disappeared more rapidly than the amino acid. Lysine was moderately lost below pH 8.0. Caramelization of fructose, which accounted for more than 40% of total UV-absorbance and 10 to 36% of brown color development, may therefore lead to overestimating the Maillard reaction in foods.

No abstract

We explored, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics and fatty acids profiling, the effects of a common nutritional complement, Curcuma longa, at a nutritionally relevant dose with human use, administered in conjunction with an unbalanced diet. Indeed, traditional food supplements have been long used to counter metabolic impairments induced by unbalanced diets. Here, rats were fed either a standard diet, a high level of fructose and saturated fatty acid (HFS) diet, a diet common to western countries and that certainly contributes to the epidemic of insulin resistance (IR) syndrome, or a HFS diet with a Curcuma longa extract (1% of curcuminoids in the extract) for ten weeks. Orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) on the serum NMR profiles and fatty acid composition (determined by GC/MS) showed a clear discrimination between HFS groups and controls. This discrimination involved metabolites such as glucose, amino acids, pyruvate, creatine, phosphocholine/glycerophosphocholine, ketone bodies and glycoproteins as well as an increase of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and a decrease of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Although the administration of Curcuma longa did not prevent the observed increase of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and insulin levels, discriminating metabolites were observed between groups fed HFS alone or with addition of a Curcuma longa extract, namely some MUFA and n-3 PUFA, glycoproteins, glutamine, and methanol, suggesting that curcuminoids may act respectively on the fatty acid metabolism, the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway and alcohol oxidation. Curcuma longa extract supplementation appears to be beneficial in these metabolic pathways in rats. This metabolomic approach highlights important serum metabolites that could help in understanding further the metabolic mechanisms leading to IR.

Abstract:As the consumption of fructose and saturated fatty acids (FAs) has greatly increased in western diets and is linked with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a moderate (10 weeks) and a prolonged (30 weeks) high fructose and saturated fatty acid (HFS) diet on plasma FA composition in rats. The effects of a few weeks of HFS diet had already been described, but in this paper we tried to establish whether these effects persist or if they are modified after 10 or 30 weeks. We hypothesized that the plasma FA profile would be altered between 10 and 30 weeks of the HFS diet. Rats fed with either the HFS or a standard diet were tested after 10 weeks and again after 30 weeks. After 10 weeks of feeding, HFS-fed rats developed the metabolic syndrome, as manifested by an increase in fasting insulinemia, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as by impaired glucose tolerance. Furthermore, the plasma FA profile of the HFS group showed higher proportions of monounsaturated FAs like palmitoleic acid [16:1(n-7)] and oleic acid [18:1(n-9)], whereas the proportions of some polyunsaturated n-6 FAs, such as linoleic acid [18:2(n-6)] and arachidonic acid [20:4(n-6)], were lower than those in the control group. After 30 weeks of the HFS diet, we observed changes mainly in the levels of 16:1(n-7) (decreased) and 20:4(n-6) (increased). Together, our results suggest that an HFS diet could lead to an adaptive response of the plasma FA profile over time, in association with the development of the metabolic syndrome.

To reduce fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gases, biomass energy is in high demand. Hura crepitans (HC) is a widely distributed plant species in Benin. But its seed oils are reputed to be purgative and unfit for consumption. So, we collected the seeds of HC in Agame (South of Benin). They were extracted and the seed oils have been converted into biodiesel. First, the quality indices (acid, peroxide, iodine and saponification) were determined. Then, elementary physicochemical parameters and fuel properties of the extracted oil have been highlighted according to standardised methods. Transesterification parameters of the seed oils (alcohol/oil and catalyst/oil ratios, temperature and yield) were also studied. The fatty acids of vegetable oil and the characteristics of its obtained biodiesel were finally identified. It appears that HC seeds have a lipid potential of 52.54%. Its oil is unsaturated and dominated by linoleic acid (54.13%). The yield of the transesterification reaction is 81.47%. The fuel parameters of the obtained biodiesel are: acidity (0.41%); density at 26°C (0.887); cetane number (54.44) compared to those of HC seed oils: acidity (4.81%), density at 26°C (0.929) and cetane number (44.53). The biodiesel obtained by transesterification with potash has much better parameters that comply with biodiesel standards. These results suggest that biodiesel of HC could be proposed to power Diesel engines without a preheating system.