Milk analysis is receiving increased attention. Milk contains conjugated octadecadienoic acids (18:2) purported to be anticarcinogenic, low levels of essential fatty acids, and trans fatty acids that increase when essential fatty acids are increased in dairy rations. Milk and rumen fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were prepared using several acid- (HCl, BF3, acetyl chloride, H2SO4) or base-catalysts (NaOCH3, tetramethylguanidine, diazomethane), or combinations thereof. All acid-catalyzed procedures resulted in decreased cis/trans (delta 9c,11t-18:2) and increased trans/trans (delta 9t,11t-18:2) conjugated dienes and the production of allylic methoxy artifacts. The methoxy artifacts were identified by gas-liquid chromatography (Gl.C)-mass spectroscopy. The base-catalyzed procedures gave no isomerization of conjugated dienes and no methoxy artifacts, but they did not transesterify N-acyl lipids such as sphingomyelin, and NaOCH3 did not methylate free fatty acids. In addition, reaction with tetramethylguanidine coextracted material with hexane that interfered with the determination of the short-chain FAME by GLC. Acid-catalyzed methylation resulted in the loss of about 12% total conjugated dienes, 42% recovery of the delta 9c,11t-18:2 isomer, a fourfold increase in delta 9t,11t-18:2, and the formation of methoxy artifacts, compared with the base-catalyzed reactions. Total milk FAME showed significant infrared (IR) absorption due to conjugated dienes at 985 and 948 cm-1. The IR determination of total trans content of milk FAME was not fully satisfactory because the 966 cm-1 trans band overlapped with the conjugated diene bands. IR accuracy was limited by the fact that the absorptivity of methyl elaidate, used as calibration standard, was different from those of the other minor trans fatty acids (e.g., dienes) found in milk. In addition, acid-catalyzed reactions produced interfering material that absorbed extensively in the trans IR region. No single method or combination of methods could adequately prepare FAME from all lipid classes in milk or rumen lipids, and not affect the conjugated dienes. The best compromise for milk fatty acids was obtained with NaOCH3 followed by HCl or BF3, or diazomethane followed by NaOCH3, being aware that sphingomyelins are ignored. For rumen samples, the best method was diazomethane followed by NaOCH3.

The objectives of the present study were to examine the effect of a milk fat-depressing (MFD) diet on: 1) the activity of mammary acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), 2) ACC mRNA relative abundance and 3) distributions of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) and trans-18:1 fatty acids (tFA) in milk fat. Twelve lactating Holstein cows were used in a single reversal design. Two diets were fed: a control diet (60:40% forage/concentrate) and an MFD diet (25:70% forage/concentrate, supplemented with 5% soybean oil). The MFD diet decreased (P: < 0 0.001) milk fat by 43% and ACC and FAS activity by 61 and 44%, respectively. A reduced ACC mRNA relative abundance (P: < 0.001) corresponded with the lower ACC activity. The fatty acids synthesized de novo were decreased (P: < 0. 002), whereas tFA were increased from 1.9 to 15.6% due predominantly to a change in trans-10-18:1 isomer (P: < 0.001). With the MFD diet, the trans-7, cis-9 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomers were elevated (P: < 0.001), in contrast to the decrease in trans-11-18:1 (P: < 0. 001) and cis-9, trans-11-18:2. The data were consistent with a dietary effect on mammary de novo FA synthesis mediated through a reduction in ACC and FAS activity and in ACC mRNA abundance. The results were compatible with a role of trans-10, cis-12 CLA in milk fat depression, but alterations noted in tFA and other CLA isomers suggest that they also may be important during diet-induced milk fat depression.

Duodenal and milk samples obtained from lactating cows in a previous study were analyzed to compare the content and isomer distribution of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) and trans-18:1 fatty acids (tFA). Four diets containing either low [25 g/100 g dry matter (DM)] or high (60 g/100 g DM) forage were fed with or without 2% added buffer to four multiparous Holstein dairy cows in a 2 x 2 factorial, 4 x 4 Latin square design with 3-wk experimental periods. Duodenal flows of CLA were low (1.02-1.84 g/d), compared with that of tFA (57-120 g/d), regardless of diet. The greatest amounts of CLA and tFA, as well as the greatest proportions of trans-10-18:1 (P < 0.02), and cis-9, trans-11 (P < 0.01) and trans-10, cis-12 CLA (P < 0.01) were in the duodenal flow of cows fed the low forage unbuffered diet. In milk fat, tFA were increased by the low forage unbuffered diet and the trans-10-18:1 (P < 0.02) replaced trans-11-18:1 as the major 18:1 isomer. Milk CLA secretion (7.2-9.1 g/d) was greater (P < 0.001) than that in the duodenal flow with each diet. This was due to the increase in cis-9, trans-11-18:2 and trans-7, cis-9 CLA, resulting most likely from endogenous synthesis via Delta9-desaturation of ruminally derived tFA. For other CLA isomers, duodenal flow was always greater than milk secretion, suggesting that they essentially were produced in the rumen.

This is the first report of the application of silver-ion impregnated high-performance liquid chromatography (Ag(+)-HPLC) to the separation of complex mixtures of conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) isomers present in commercial CLA sources and foods and in biological specimens. This method showed a clear separation of CLA isomers into three groups related to their trans,trans, cis,trans or trans,cis, and cic,cis configuration of the conjugated double-bond system. In addition, this method separated individual positional isomers of the conjugated diene system within each geometrical isomeric group. Following Ag(+)-HPLC isolation, gas chromatography (GC)-electron impact mass spectrometry, and GC-direct deposition-Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy were used to confirm the identity of two major positional isomers in the cis/trans region, i.e., delta 8,10- and delta 11,13-octadecadienoic acids, which had not been chromatographically resolved previously. Furthermore, the potential of this method was demonstrated by showing different Ag(+)-HPLC profiles exhibiting patterns of isomeric distributions for biological specimens from animals fed a diet containing a commercial CLA preparation, as well as for a commercial cheese product.

Cold-pressed marionberry, boysenberry, red raspberry, and blueberry seed oils were evaluated for their fatty acid composition, carotenoid content, tocopherol profile, total phenolic content (TPC), oxidative stability index (OSI), peroxide value, and antioxidant properties. All tested seed oils contained significant levels of alpha-linolenic acid ranging from 19.6 to 32.4 g per 100 g of oil, along with a low ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acids (1.64-3.99). The total carotenoid content ranged from 12.5 to 30.0 micromoles per kg oil. Zeaxanthin was the major carotenoid compound in all tested berry seed oils, along with beta-carotene, lutein, and cryptoxanthin. Total tocopherol was 260.6-2276.9 mumoles per kg oil, including alpha-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherols. OSI values were 20.07, 20.30, and 44.76 h for the marionberry, red raspberry, and boysenberry seed oils, respectively. The highest TPC of 2.0 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of oil was observed in the red raspberry seed oil, while the strongest oxygen radical absorbance capacity was in boysenberry seed oil extract (77.9 micromol trolox equivalents per g oil). All tested berry seed oils directly reacted with and quenched DPPH radicals in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These data suggest that the cold-pressed berry seed oils may serve as potential dietary sources of tocopherols, carotenoids, and natural antioxidants.

Pigs were fed a commercial conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) mixture, prepared by alkali isomerization of sunflower oil, at 2% of the basal diet, from 61.5 to 106 kg live weight, and were compared to pigs fed the same basal diet with 2% added sunflower oil. The total lipids from liver, heart, inner back fat, and omental fat of pigs fed the CLA diet were analyzed for the incorporation of CLA isomers into all the tissue lipid classes. A total of 10 lipid classes were isolated by three-directional thin-layer chromatography and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) on long capillary columns and by silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatography (Ag+-HPLC); cholesterol was determined spectrophotometrically. Only trace amounts (<0.1%; by GC) of the 9,11-18:2 cis/trans and trans,trans isomers were observed in pigs fed the control diet. Ten and twelve CLA isomers in the diet and in pig tissue lipids were separated by GC and Ag+- HPLC, respectively. The relative concentration of all the CLA isomers in the different lipid classes ranged from 1 to 6% of the total fatty acids. The four major cis/trans isomers (18.9% 11 cis,13 trans-18:2; 26.3% 10 trans,12 cis-18:2; 20.4% 9 cis,11 trans-18:2; and 16.1% 8 trans, 10 cis-18:2) constituted 82% of the total CLA isomers in the dietary CLA mixture, and smaller amounts of the corresponding cis,cis (7.4%) and trans,trans (10.1%) isomers were present. The distribution of CLA isomers in inner back fat and in omental fat of the pigs was similar to that found in the diet. The liver triacylglycerols (TAG), free fatty acids (FFA), and cholesteryl esters showed a similar pattern to that found in the diet. The major liver phospholipids showed a marked increase of 9 cis,11 trans-18:2, ranging from 36 to 54%, compared to that present in the diet. However, liver diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) showed a high incorporation of the 11 cis,13 trans-18:2 isomer (43%). All heart lipid classes, except TAG, showed a high content of 11 cis,13 trans-18:2, which was in marked contrast to results in the liver. The relative proportion of 11 cis,13 trans-18:2 ranged from 30% in the FFA to 77% in DPG. The second major isomer in all heart lipids was 9 cis,11 trans-18:2. In both liver and heart lipids the relative proportions of both 10 trans,12 cis-18:2 and 8 trans, 10 cis-18:2 were significantly lower compared to that found in the diet. The FFA in liver and heart showed the highest content of trans,trans isomers (31 to 36%) among all the lipid classes. The preferential accumulation of the 11 cis,13 trans-18:2 into cardiac lipids, and in particular the major phospholipid in the inner mitochondrial membrane, DPG, in both heart and liver, appears unique and may be of concern. The levels of 11 cis,13 trans-18:2 naturally found in foods have not been established.

Commercial cheese products were analyzed for their composition and content of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers. The total lipids were extracted from cheese using petroleum ether/diethyl ether and methylated using NaOCH3. The fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were separated by gas chromatography (GC), using a 100-m polar capillary column, into nine minor peaks besides that of the major rumenic acid, 9c,11t-octadecadienoic acid (18:2), and were attributed to 19 CLA isomers. By using silver ion-high performance liquid chromatography (Ag+ -HPLC), CLA isomers were resolved into seven trans,trans (5-9%), three cis/trans (10-13%), and five cis,cis (<1%) peaks, totaling 15, in addition to that of the 9c,11t-18:2 (78-84%). The FAME of total cheese lipids were fractionated by semipreparative Ag+ -HPLC and converted to their 4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives after hydrolysis to free fatty acids. The geometrical configuration of the CLA isomers was confirmed by GC-direct deposition-Fourier transform infrared, and their double bond positions were established by GC-electron ionization mass spectrometry. Reconstructed mass spectral ion profiles of the m + 2 allylic ion and the m + 3 ion (where m is the position of the second double bond in the parent conjugated fatty acid) were used to identify the minor CLA isomers in cheese. Cheese contained 7t,9c-18:2 and the previously unreported 11t,13c-18:2 and 12c,14t-18:2, and their trans,trans and cis,cis geometric isomers. Minor amounts of 8,10-, and 10,12-18:2 were also found. The predicted elution orders of the different CLA isomers on long polar capillary GC and Ag+ -HPLC columns are also presented.

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are octadecadienoic acids (18:2) that have a conjugated double-bond system. Interest in these compounds has expanded since CLA were found to be associated with a number of physiological and pathological responses such as cancer, metastases, atherosclerosis, diabetes, immunity, and body fat/protein composition. The main sources of these conjugated fatty acids are dairy fats. Rumen bacteria convert polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic and linolenic acids, to CLA and numerous trans- containing mono- and diunsaturated fatty acids. It has been established that an additional route of CLA synthesis in ruminants and monogastric animals, including humans, occurs via Δ9 desaturation of the trans-18:1 isomers. To date, a total of 6 positional CLA isomers have been found in dairy fats, each occurring in 4 geometric forms (cis,trans; trans,cis; cis,cis; and trans,trans) for a total of 24. All of these CLA isomers can be resolved only by a combination of gas chromatography (GC), using 100 m highly polar capillary columns, and silver-ion liquid chromatography, using 3 of these 25 cm columns in series. Complete analysis of all the trans-18:1 isomers requires prior isolation of trans monoenes by silver-ion thin-layer chromatography (TLC), followed by GC analysis using the same 100 m capillary columns operated at low temperatures starting from 120°C. These analytical techniques are required to assess the purity of commercial CLA preparations, because their purity will affect the interpretation of any physiological and/or biochemical response obtained. Prior assessment of CLA preparations by TLC is also recommended to determine the presence of any other impurities. The availability of pure CLA isomers will permit the evaluation and analysis of individual CLA isomers for their nutritional and biological activity in model systems, animals, and humans. These techniques are also essential to evaluate dairy fats for their content of specific CLA isomers and to help design experimental diets to increase the level of the desired CLA isomers in dairy fats. These improved techniques are further required to evaluate the CLA profile in monogastric animals fed commercial CLA preparations for CLA enrichment of animal products. This is particularly important because absorption and metabolism will alter the ingested-CLA profile in the animal fed.