Optimization of the Encapsulation of Vitamin D3 in Oil in Water Nanoemulsions: Preliminary Application in a Functional Meat Model System.

Meat products containing Vitamin D3 (VD3) are an innovative option that could contribute to reducing deficiencies in this micronutrient. Designing nanoemulsions that carry VD3 is the first step in developing functional meat products. Thereby, this study investigated the impact of food components on the nanoemulsion properties. A central composite design was used to study the effects of pea protein (PP, 0.5-2.5%), safflower oil (SO, 5-15%), and salt (0-0.5%) on the nanoemulsion stability (ζ-potential and particle size) and the VD3 retention. Also, the optimized nanoemulsion carrying VD3 was incorporated into a meat matrix to study its retention after cooking. The combination of food components in the optimized nanoemulsion were SO = 9.12%, PP = 1.54%, and salt content = 0.4%, resulting in the predicted values of ζ-potential, particle size, and VD3 retention of -37.76 mV, 485 nm, and 55.1%, respectively. The VD3 that was nanoencapsulated and included in a meat product remained more stable after cooking than the VD3 that was not encapsulated. If a meat product is formulated with 5 or 10% safflower oil, the stability of the nanoencapsulated VD3 is reduced. This research contributes to developing functional meat products carrying nanoencapsulated vitamin D3 in natural food-grade components.

Chromium Methionine and Ractopamine Supplementation in Summer Diets for Grower-Finisher Pigs Reared under Heat Stress.

This study aimed to determine the effects of the dietary supplementation of chromium methionine (CrMet) and ractopamine (RAC) on pigs in the growing-finishing stage under heat stress. The parameters evaluated included productive behavior, blood components, carcass characteristics, organ weight, and meat quality. This study was conducted during the summer season in Sonora, Mexico. The treatments included: (1) control diet (CON), a base diet (BD) formulated to satisfy the nutritional requirements of pigs; (2) RAC, BD plus 10 ppm RAC supplemented during the last 34 days of the study; (3) CrMet-S, BD supplemented with 0.8 ppm of Cr from CrMet during the last 34 days; and (4) CrMet-L, BD supplemented with 0.8 ppm of Cr from CrMet for an 81 d period. RAC supplementation improved the productive behavior and main carcass characteristics of the pigs compared with CON. However, RAC and CrMet supplementation during the last 34 days showed similar results in terms of weight gain, carcass quality, blood components, organ weight, and meat quality. The addition of CrMet-S had a moderate (although not significant) increase in productive performance and carcass weight. These findings are encouraging, as they suggest that CrMet may be a potential alternative for growth promotion. However, more research is needed.

Productive Performance, Physiological Variables, and Carcass Quality of Finishing Pigs Supplemented with Ferulic Acid and Grape Pomace under Heat Stress Conditions.

The effect of individual and combined supplementation of FA and GPM on physiological variables, productive performance, and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs under heat stress conditions were investigated. Forty Yorkshire × Duroc pigs (80.23 kg) were individually housed and randomly distributed into 4 groups under a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (n = 10): Control (basal diet, BD); FA, BD + 25 mg FA; GPM, BD with 2.5% GPM; and MIX, BD with 25 mg FA and 2.5% GPM. Additives were supplemented for 31 days. The inclusion of FA or GPM did not modify rectal temperature and respiratory rate. There was an effect of the interaction on FI, which increased when only GPM was supplemented, with respect to Control and MIX (p < 0.05). Average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion (FC) were not affected by treatments (p > 0.05). The inclusion of FA improved hot and cold carcass weight, while the addition of GPM decreased the marbling (p < 0.05) and tended to increase loin area (p < 0.10). GPM increased liver weight (p < 0.05). The addition of GPM and FA can improve some carcass characteristics under heat stress conditions. It is necessary to continue investigating different levels of inclusion of GPM and FA in finishing pigs' diets.

Inhibition of the CYP Enzymatic System Responsible of Heterocyclic Amines Bioactivation by an Asclepias subulata Extract.

Asclepias subulata plant extract has previously demonstrated antiproliferative activity and antimutagenicity against heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) commonly found in cooked meat. The objective of this work was to evaluate the in vitro ability of an ethanolic extract from the medicinal plant Asclepias subulata extract (ASE), non-heated and heated (180 °C), to inhibit the activity of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, which are largely responsible for HAAs bioactivation. Ethoxyresorufin and methoxyresorufin O-dealkylation assays were performed in rat liver microsomes exposed to ASE (0.002-960 µg/mL). ASE exerted an inhibitory effect in a dose-dependent manner. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) for unheated ASE was 353.6 µg/mL and 75.9 µg/mL for heated ASE in EROD assay. An IC40 value of 288.4 ± 5.8 µg/mL was calculated for non-heated ASE in MROD assay. However, after heat treatment, the IC50 value was 232.1 ± 7.4 µg/mL. Molecular docking of corotoxigenin-3-O-glucopyranoside, one of the main components of ASE, with CYP1A1/2 structure, was performed. Results show that the interaction of corotoxigenin-3-O-glucopyranoside with CYP1A1/2s' α-helices, which are related with the active site and the heme cofactor, may explain the plant extract's inhibitory properties. Results showed that ASE inhibits CYP1A enzymatic subfamily and may potentially act as a chemopreventive agent by inhibiting bioactivation of promutagenic dietary HAAs.

Optimizing the Effects of Nisin and NaCl to Thermal Inactivate Listeria monocytogenes in Ground Beef with Chipotle Sauce During Sous-vide Processing.

Mild cooking thermal treatments, like sous-vide, can compromise ground meat entrees such as meatballs with chipotle sauce, especially when salt levels are reduced during its preparation. Listeria monocytogenes is a thermoresistant pathogen that can be in ready-to-eat food. On the other hand, nisin, due to its thermal stability, can be a good alternative to aid on the thermal inactivation of L. monocytogenes and ensure meat safety. The objective was to optimize the amount of nisin and salt concentrations to thermally inactivate L. monocytogenes during the sous-vide cooking of ground beef marinated in chipotle sauce, and to generate a predictive model. A four-strain cocktail was prepared and inoculated in ground beef in combination (3:2) with chipotle sauce added with nisin (0-150 IU) and salt (0-2%). After that, meat samples were sous-vide cooked at different temperatures, nisin, and salt concentrations, established by a central composite design. Depending on the levels of these factors, D-values ranged from 49.71 to 0.27 min. A predictive model (p < 0.05) was obtained by response surface, which described that D-values variation was explained by the linear effects of the three factors, the interaction between nisin and temperature, and the quadratic effects of salt and temperature. It was also observed that nisin presented a bactericidal effect while salt presented a protective effect during the thermal inactivation of L. monocytogenes. Adding 120 IU of nisin and 0.4% of salt to the meat product at 63°C temperature can help to ensure food safety by making L. monocytogenes cells more sensitive to the lethal effect of heat. The model developed in this study can be used by food processors for planning and designing effective levels of salt and nisin to thermally inactivate L. monocytogenes in ground beef products marinated with chipotle sauce to ensure their safety.

Optimization and In Vitro Digestion of a Guava (Psidium guajava), Mamey (Pouteria sapota) and Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) Functional Beverage.

Guava and mamey are phenolic- and carotenoid-rich fruits with potential health benefits, but are minimally used as ingredients in functional beverages. The objectives of the present work are to optimize the content of guava and mamey pulps and a stevia solution in the formulation of a functional beverage with high content of bioactive compounds and sensory acceptability using a mixture design analysis, and to analyze its composition after in vitro digestion. The optimized formulation (17.77 and 19.23 g of guava and mamey pulps, respectively; 1% stevia solution) yielded a beverage with 418.21 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 mL and 0.20 mg ß-carotene/100 mL, and an antioxidant capacity of 213.58, 78.90 and 234.03 mg Trolox equivalents (TE)/100 mL using three methodologies. The mathematical model developed was significant (p < 0.05), according to R2 values between 0.70 and 0.75. α- and ß-carotene were quantified during the oral phase of in vitro digestion. Gallic, p-coumaric, ferulic and chlorogenic acids were also identified. The beverage had a general acceptability of 6.72. We conclude that the mathematical model developed was a good predictor of the experimental data and that the optimized beverage contained high bioactive concentrations (phenolics and carotenoids) and was well-accepted by potential consumers.

Influence of ferulic acid and clinoptilolite supplementation on growth performance, carcass, meat quality, and fatty acid profile of finished lambs.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ferulic acid (FA) and clinoptilolite (CTL) supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of hair-breed lambs. Twenty-eight Kathadin male lambs (33.72 ± 3.4 kg) were randomly allocated to one of the four diets (n=7) under a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to evaluate the effect of FA (0 or 300 ppm) and CTL (0% or 1%) during the last 40 days of the finishing phase. No interaction between additives was shown for growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality, with exception of the fatty acid profile (p < 0.05). FA reduced feed intake and carcass conformation (p < 0.05). Wholesale cuts were not affected by FA or CTL (p > 0.05). The L*, a*, and C* color parameters and some intramuscular fatty acids of the longissimus thoracis muscle were positively modified by CTL supplementation (p < 0.05). While there was no FA × CTL interaction, each additive could be used individually in animal nutrition to improve the feedlot performance and meat quality of the lambs.

Hydrolysates and peptide fractions from pork and chicken skin collagen as pancreatic lipase inhibitors.

The objective of this work was to obtain hydrolysates and peptide fractions from pork (PSC) and chicken (CSC) skin collagen extracts and to evaluate their ability as pancreatic lipase inhibitors. Collagen extracts were hydrolyzed with collagenase or a protease from Bacillus licheniformis (MPRO NX®) at 6, 12, and 24 h. After 24 h incubation, the highest degree of hydrolysis of PSC (p < 0.05) was obtained with collagenase (72.58%), while in CSC was obtained with MPRO NX® (64.45%). Hydrolysates obtained at 24 h had the highest inhibitory activity of lipase (p < 0.05). CSC/collagenase hydrolysates (10 mg/mL) presented the highest inhibitory activity (75.53%) (p < 0.05). Ultrafiltrated fractions >5 kDa from CSC/collagenase and PSC/MPRO NX® hydrolysates were the most bioactive fractions (IC50: 4.33 mg/mL). The highest were obtained by CSC peptides (IC50s: 6.30 and 6.08 mg/mL). These results may be considered as a novel approach to use collagen hydrolysates, or their peptide fractions, as promising natural inhibitors of pancreatic lipase.

Growth performance, carcass traits, muscle fiber characteristics and skeletal muscle mRNA abundance in hair lambs supplemented with ferulic acid.

Ferulic acid (FA) is a phytochemical with various bioactive properties. It has recently been proposed that due to its phytogenic action it can be used as an alternative growth promoter additive to synthetic compounds. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the growth performance, carcass traits, fiber characterization and skeletal muscle gene expression on hair-lambs supplemented with two doses of FA. Thirty-two male lambs (n = 8 per treatment) were individually housed during a 32 d feeding trial to evaluate the effect of FA (300 and 600 mg d-1) or zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH; 6 mg d-1) on growth performance, and then slaughtered to evaluate the effects on carcass traits, and muscle fibers morphometry from Longissimus thoracis (LT) and mRNA abundance of ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß2-AR), MHC-I, MHC-IIX and IGF-I genes. FA increased final weight and average daily gain with respect to non-supplemented animals (p < 0.05). The ZH supplementation increased LT muscle area, with respect to FA doses and control (p < 0.05). Cross-sectional area (CSA) of oxidative fibers was larger with FA doses and ZH (p < 0.05). Feeding ZH increased mRNA abundance for ß2-AR compared to FA and control (p < 0.05), and expression of MHC-I was affected by FA doses and ZH (p < 0.05). Overall, FA supplementation of male hair lambs enhanced productive variables due to skeletal muscle hypertrophy caused by MHC-I up-regulation. Results suggest that FA has the potential like a growth promoter in lambs.

Effects of Ferulic Acid Supplementation on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Histochemical Characteristics of Muscle Fibers in Finishing Pigs.

FA dietary supplementation on the growth performance, carcass traits and histochemical characteristics of the Longissimus thoracis muscle from finishing pigs was investigated. Four hundred and twenty pigs were used in this study, and 105 animals (with five replicate pens and 21 pigs per pen) were assigned to one of four treatments: basal diet (BD) without additives (C-); BD + 10 ppm ractopamine hydrochloride + 0.97% lysine (C+); BD + 25 ppm of FA (FA); and BD + 25 ppm of FA + 0.97% lysine (FA-Lys). Dietary supplementation with FA or ractopamine increased both the average daily gain (14%) and loin muscle area (19%), while fat deposition decreased by 53%, in comparison with C- (p < 0.05). The growth performance of pigs treated with FA was similar to those of ractopamine (p > 0.05). The histochemical analysis showed that FA and C+ treatments induced a shift in muscle fiber types: from fast fibers to intermediate (alkaline ATPase) and from oxidative to glycolytic fibers. Muscle tissues from animals treated with FA or ractopamine had a lower cross-sectional area and a greater number of muscle fibers per area (p < 0.05). Findings regarding growth performance and carcass traits indicate that FA supplementation at 25 ppm without extra-lysine can replace the use of ractopamine as a growth promoter in finishing pigs.

Modelling the Effects of Roselle Extract, Potato Peel Flour, and Beef Fat on the Sensory Properties and Heterocyclic Amines Formation of Beef Patties Studied by Using Response Surface Methodology.

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are compounds with carcinogenic potential formed during high-temperature processing of meat and meat products. Vegetables or their extracts with high antioxidant capacity can be incorporated into the meat matrix to reduce their formation, but it is necessary to find the optimal levels to achieve maximum inhibition without affecting the sensory properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of roselle extract (RE, 0-1%), potato peel flour (PP, 0-2%), and beef fat (BF, 0-15%) on the sensory properties and formation of HCAs in beef patties using response surface methodology. IQx, IQ, MeIQx, MeIQ, 4,8-DiMeIQx, and PhIP were identified and quantified by HPLC. Regression models were developed to predict sensory properties and HCAs' formation. All models were significant (p < 0.05) and showed a R2 > 0.70. Roselle extract and beef fat had a negative linear effect on the formation of the total HCAs, while PP had a positive linear effect. The optimal formula that minimizes the formation of HCAs included 0.63% RE, 0.99% PP, and 11.96% BF. RE and PP are foods that can be used as ingredients in low-fat beef patties to minimize the formation of HCAs without affecting their sensory properties.

Muscle fiber morphometry and physicochemical characteristics of the Longissimus thoracis muscle of hair male lambs fed zilpaterol hydrochloride and implanted with steroids.

Muscle fiber morphometry and physicochemical characteristics were evaluated in LT muscles obtained from entire male lambs treated with zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH, 0 and 0.15 mg/kg body weight) and/or steroidal implant (SI, with and without trenbolone acetate/estradiol). ZH and SI acted synergistically to increase LT area, type-IIb fiber cross-sectional area and soluble collagen content, likewise to decrease metmyoglobin concentration and insoluble collagen content. Ash content and ultimate pH showed a decrease due to an antagonistic effect between ZH and SI. Content of total collagen, protein, fat, moisture, oxidized lipids and water-holding capacity were unaffected by ZH and SI. Supplemental ZH, but not SI, decreased all color parameters and tended to increase shear force. Overall, the SI implantation of male lambs followed by a ZH supplementation promoted greater LT hypertrophy, without affecting protein and fat content, and physicochemical characteristics in their meat.

Effects of dietary ferulic acid on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of heifers.

BACKGROUND: Ferulic acid is a natural occurring compound with antioxidant and antimicrobial bioactive properties, and recently was proposed as a new alternative growth promoter in meat-producing animals without changing meat quality parameters. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of two doses of ferulic acid (FA) on the feedlot performance, carcass traits, and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of meat quality in commercial heifers. Ninety heifers (3/4 Bos taurus; n = 270; body weight = 480 ± 10 kg) were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments (30 days): Control, fed with a basal diet; FA250 or FA500 offered the same diet further supplemented with FA at 250 or 500 mg kg-1 feed, respectively. Feedlot performance, carcass traits, and physicochemical and meat sensory characteristics were evaluated. RESULTS: FA supplementation increased average daily gain (ADG) by 21%, hot carcass weight by 1.8% and cold carcass weight by 1.6% with respect to the control (P < 0.05). FA500 treatment caused a decrease (P < 0.05) in some carcass traits. However, carcass characteristics of economic importance, such as cold carcass dressing and LT muscle area, were improved by FA250 supplementation (P < 0.05), causing a possible growth promoter effect. Physicochemical and sensory parameters of meat were not altered by FA supplementation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ferulic acid has the potential for use as a growth promoter additive in finishing heifers without negatively affecting the meat quality, as occurs with some synthetic growth promotants compounds used in animal production. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antimutagenic effect of an Asclepias subulata extract against heterocyclic aromatic amines commonly found in cooked meat and its heat stability.

The antimutagenicity of an extract from the medicinal plant Asclepias subulata (ASE) against heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) commonly found in cooked meat, as well as its stability to heat treatment (HT), was evaluated. HT (180 °C/3 min) had no effect on the content in ASE of the bioactive compound corotoxigenin-3-O-glucopyranoside; conversely, calotropin significantly decreased by 72%. ASE exerted antimutagenicity against PhIP, MelQ, and MelQx in TA98 and TA100 Salmonella strains, and this activity was not affected by heat, with the exception of MelQ (p < 0.05). Since HAAs can induce colorectal cancer, the thermal stability of ASE's antiproliferative effect against colorectal cancer cells was also evaluated. HT decreased (p < 0.05) the antiproliferative activity of ASE; however, the remaining activity was still strong with an IC50 of 16.8 ± 2.03 µg/mL. Therefore, ASE can be used as a food ingredient to reduce the carcinogenic potential of thermally induced HAAs.

Pork frankfurters prepared with hydrolyzed whey: Preliminary product quality aspects and inhibitory activity of the resulting peptides on angiotensin-converting enzyme.

The objective of this study was to assess the addition of whey protein hydrolysate (WH) on quality and antihypertensive potential of pork frankfurters, as the first step in development of a functional meat product. A hydrolyzed whey protein solution was incorporated in the frankfurter formula according to the following treatments: T0 (30% water), T1 (10% WH, 20% water), T2 (20% WH, 10% water) and T3 (30% WH). Addition of up to 30% WH increased lightness and yellowness, decreased hardness and chewiness by 15% and shear force by 43%, with no effect on pH (6.36) and cooking yield (93%). The WH addition resulted in an increase in the antihypertensive potential (IC50 258.78 µg/mL) relative to the T0 (IC50 1548.25 µg/mL). Cold storage of the product with 30% WH did not impact physicochemical quality, nor did it modify the antihypertensive potential. Incorporation of whey hydrolysate into pork frankfurters could be an option for providing antihypertensive peptides in food for health-oriented consumers.

Effects and interactions of gallic acid, eugenol and temperature on thermal inactivation of Salmonella spp. in ground chicken.

The combined effects of heating temperature (55 to 65°C), gallic acid (0 to 2.0%), and eugenol (0 to 2.0%) on thermal inactivation of Salmonella in ground chicken were assessed. Thermal death times were determined in bags submerged in a heated water bath maintained at various set temperatures, following a central composite design. The recovery medium was tryptic soy agar supplemented with 0.6% yeast extract and 1% sodium pyruvate. D-values were analyzed by second-order response surface regression for temperature, gallic acid, and eugenol. The observed D-values for chicken with no gallic acid or eugenol at 55, 57.5, 60, 62.5, and 65°C were 21.85, 5.43, 2.83, 0.58, and 0.26min, respectively. A second-order polynomial model developed to inactivate Salmonella was found to be significant (p<0.0001) with a R2=0.95 and a no significant lack of fit (p>0.1073). Efficacy of the additives in increasing the sensitivity of the pathogen to heat was concentration dependent. The model developed in this study can be used by processors to design appropriate thermal process to inactivate Salmonella in chicken products used in the study and thereby, ensuring an adequate degree of protection against risks associated with the pathogen.

Quality evaluation of low fat bologna-type meat product with a nutritional profile designed for the elderly.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of a bologna-type meat product designed for the elderly. Treatments were: control, without addition of cranberries (C), prunes (P), pecan nuts (N) or flaxseed (F); NP, with 5% N+5% P; FC, with 5% F+5% C; NC, with 5% N+5% C; FP, with 5% F+5% P. These formulations resulted in a product with high protein, low SFA and high antioxidant activity. Treatments with pecan nuts had higher MUFA while those with flaxseed had higher polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Treatments with pecan nuts and flaxseed had higher PUFA/SFA ratios, but only those with flaxseed had very low n6/n3 ratios when compared to the control. Although treatments showed acceptable scores (>5.4), they were lower than the control. A combination of these non-traditional ingredients could be used to develop a meat product for older adults to provide a better nutritional profile with acceptable sensory properties.

Effect of Grapefruit Seed Extract on Thermal Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes during Sous-Vide Processing of Two Marinated Mexican Meat Entrées.

D- and z-values for Listeria monocytogenes were obtained for two Mexican meat entrées: pork meat marinated in tomatillo (green tomato) sauce (PTS) and beef marinated in a red chili sauce (BRCS), with addition of 0, 200, and 800 ppm of grapefruit seed extract (GSE). Meat samples inoculated with L. monocytogenes were packaged in sterile bags, immersed in a water bath, and held at 55, 57.5, 60, and 62.5°C for different periods of time. Depending upon the temperature, D-values at 0 ppm of GSE ranged from 26.19 to 2.03 min in BRCS and 26.41 to 0.8 min in PTS. Adding 800 ppm of GSE to BRCS thermally treated at 55 and 62.5°C significantly decreased inactivation time by 35%. A reduction in time of 25.9, 10.6, and 40.1% at 55, 57.5, and 60°C, respectively, was observed in PTS with 800 ppm of GSE. The z-values of L. monocytogenes were not significantly affected by GSE addition; average z-values were 7.25 and 5.09°C for BRCS and PTS, respectively. Estimated thermal lethality for a 7-D log reduction of L. monocytogenes under commercial-size sous-vide conditions at a reference temperature of 55°C was reached at 78 and 71 min for BRCS without and with 800 ppm of GSE, respectively. For PTS, 7-D reduction was attained at 69 and 61 min without and with addition of 800 ppm of GSE, respectively. Supplementing both Mexican meat entrées (BRCS and PTS) with 800 ppm of GSE rendered L. monocytogenes cells more sensitive to the lethal effect of heat. The results of this study will assist the retail food industry in designing acceptance limits on critical control points pertaining to cooking regimes to effectively eliminate L. monocytogenes in BRCS and PTS sous-vide processed Mexican meat entrées.