ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT The present study aims to establish the fatty acid profile of a variety of traditional foods consumed regularly in Paraguay. Thirty-two high-lipid content foods were evaluated by gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Meat and dairy products were found to present high levels of saturated fatty acids, and this led to an increase in the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices of these products. Among the monounsaturated acids evaluated, oleic acid (18:1n-9c) was mainly found in olives (71.7%) and chipa (62.7%), which had been industrially prepared with the addition of oleic acid. Milk-based ice cream (5.1%) and chipa guazú (3.8%) presented the highest content of trans fatty acids. The n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio obtained for the traditional sopa Paraguaya and empanada (fried pasty) was higher than 37:1; this can be attributed to the addition of soybean and corn oils in the preparation of these foods. The data evaluated and presented in this study can contribute toward the improvement of eating habits among the Paraguayan population, as well as help combat the risk factors commonly associated with bad eating habits and chronic health issues.
RESUMEN El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo establecer los perfiles de ácidos grasos de una variedad de alimentos tradicionales que se consumen regularmente en Paraguay. Se evaluaron treinta y dos alimentos con alto contenido de lípidos mediante cromatografía de gases acoplada a detector de ionización de llama (GC-FID). Los productos cárnicos y lácteos presentaron un elevado nivel de ácidos grasos saturados, aumentando los índices de aterogenicidad y trombogenicidad. Entre los monoinsaturados, el ácido oleico (18: 1n-9c) se encuentró principalmente en aceitunas (71,7%) y chipa (62,7%), este último preparado industrialmente por adición de ácido oleico. En cuanto al contenido de ácidos grasos trans, los valores más altos se encontraron en los helados a base de leche (5,1%) y chipa guazú (3,8%). Los valores de la relación n-6 / n-3 fueron superiores a 37:1 en sopa paraguaya y empanada (frita) debido a la adición de aceite de soja y maíz utilizado en la preparación de alimentos. Los datos evaluados y presentados en este estudio pueden contribuir a la mejora de los hábitos alimentarios de la población paraguaya, así como ayudar a combatir los factores de riesgo comúnmente asociados con los malos hábitos alimentarios y los problemas crónicos de salud.
ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary n-6:n-3 ratio and Vitamin E on the membrane properties and motility characteristics of spermatozoa in boars. Forty Duroc boars were randomly distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial design with two n-6:n-3 ratios (14.4 and 6.6) and two Vitamin E levels (200 and 400 mg kg-1). During 16 weeks of treatment, fresh semen was collected at weeks 0, 8, 12, and 16 for measurements of motility characteristics, contents of fatty acids, membrane properties (membrane fluidity and membrane integrity), and lipid peroxidation of the spermatozoa. The semen was diluted in Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) extender and stored at 17°C, and the sperm motility was assessed at 12, 36, 72, and 120 h of storage. The 6.6 n-6:n-3 dietary ratio increased the contents of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and improved the membrane integrity and membrane fluidity of the spermatozoa, resulting in notably increased total motility, sperm progressive motility, and velocity parameters of fresh semen. Feeding diet with Vitamin E (400 mg kg-1) prevented sperm lipid peroxidation, and resulted in higher total motility and sperm progressive motility in fresh and liquid stored semen. In conclusion, the adjustment of n-6:n-3 ratio (6.6) and supply of Vitamin E (400 mg kg-1) successfully improved sperm motility characteristics and thus may be beneficial to the fertility of boars, which might be due to the modification of the physical and functional properties of spermatozoa membrane in response to dietary supplementation.