The Quality Determination of Selected Commercial Online Purchased Edible Pomegranate Seed Oils With New Argentometric Liquid Chromatography Method.

The number of online-purchased dietary supplements of diversified origin is exponentially increasing. Pomegranate seed oils (PSOs)-the main dietary source of conjugated linolenic acids (CLnA)-are available as dietary supplements via the Internet. PSO samples (n = 24) were purchased from Internet shops in Poland and China. Chromatographic techniques (gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy [GC-MS] for fatty acids [FAs], liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection for tocopherols, and high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection for conjugated FAs) were used. The GC-MS method enabled the quantification of 45 FAs, which indicates its superiority to previously used methods. Argentometric liquid chromatography with pre-column mild alkaline hydrolysis for analysis of structural isomers of CLnA does not need preliminary derivatization into volatile compounds, which ensures the absence of artifacts and enables the analysis of the entire conjugated FA profile. PSO differed with tocopherols and FA profile. Some PSOs contained negligible amounts of CLnA, and because of that they did not meet the criteria of valuable, unadulterated nutraceuticals. Obtained results indicate that online purchased PSO shipped from distant places of origin could have been stored in inadequate conditions (temperature, humidity), which caused i.a. deterioration of oxidative quality. Unregulated online availability of dietary supplements of low oxidative quality and nutritive value as well as their intake may be a risk rather than a benefit for consumers. Argentometric liquid chromatography can be a simple, selective, and sensitive tool for screening of dietary supplements containing conjugated FAs and should be considered as an essential way of quality assurance.

Giblets and abdominal fat of pomegranate seed oil fed chickens as a source of bioactive fatty acids.

The aim of present study was to determine whether chickens' (broilers Ross 308, n = 180, sex ratio 1:1) diet modification with different doses of grape or pomegranate seed oil will favourable change fatty acids and cholesterol content in selected giblets (liver and heart) or wastes (adipose tissue). It was also verify whether generated changes would make the giblets and wastes more valuable as dietary components or by-products for food industry. From 22 to 42 day of life, five diets were administered to chickens. Control grower diet (CON) contained 5% of soy oil, whereas in the experimental grower diets part of soy oil (1.5% or 2%) was replaced with specific amount of grape or pomegranate seed oil (GRAP 1.5; GRAP 2.0; POM 1.5; POM 2.0 respectively). Fatty acids and cholesterol content were determined with gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection. Pomegranate seed oil improved fatty acids profile more favourably than grape seed oil, which makes it a valuable additive in chickens' feeding. Abdominal fat of pomegranate seed oil supplemented chickens appeared to be the richest sources of rumenic acid and n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which allows to suggest its use in manufacturing of meat products to obtain foodstuffs rich in those essential nutrients. In principal component analysis (PCA), two principal components: PC1 and PC2, which were enough to explain 29.91% of variance of initial variables, allowed to a good separation of chickens fed with both doses of pomegranate seed oil from animals from control and grape seed oil fed groups. Because poultry addresses all nutritional, institutional and consumer requirements, enrichment of giblets in rumenic acid by pomegranate seed oil incorporation into chickens' diet may provide a valuable dietary source of bioactive fatty acids for consumers, especially of low-income countries.