Browsing by Author "Kilasonia, Z."
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- Carotenoids of Traditional Foods from Black Sea Area Countries and their relation with Immune ResponsePublication . Sanches-Silva, A.; Albuquerque, T.G.; Finglas, P.; D'Antuono, F.; Trichopoulou, A.; Vasilopoulou, E.; Alexieva, I.; Boyko, N.; Costea, C.; Dubtsov, G.; Fedosova, K.; Hayran, O.; Kilasonia, Z.; Costa, H.S.Carotenoids are colourful compounds which provide photoprotection of plants and participate in their photosynthesis. Particularly β-carotene may enhance the human immune response. Some epidemiological studies have suggested an association between carotenoids intake and reduced incidence of some forms of cancer, which might be related with the antioxidant properties of carotenoids, namely by their ability of reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) damages in cell membranes. Moreover, carotenoids may also influence the activity of redox-sensitive transcription factors and the production of cytokines and prostaglandins. Carotenoids were extracted from Black Sea Area Countries (BSAC) traditional foods with a mixture of hexane/ethanol, 4:3 (v/v). In all samples, a procedure with and without saponification step was applied. Separation and quantification was performed by Ultra High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC). Chromatographic separation was performed with a UPLC® BEH guard-column (2.1 x 5 mm, 1.7 µm particle size) and a UPLC® BEH analytical column (2.1 x 50 mm, 1.7 µm particle size). Mobile phases were (A) ultrapure water; (B) acetonitrile/methanol (containing ammonium acetate)/dichloromethane (75:20:5, v/v/v). The flow-rate was 0.5 mL/min. From the 28 analysed traditional foods for carotenoids content, α-carotene was quantified in 7. The highest level was found for rodopian dried beans, followed by vegetable okroshka. β-carotene was quantified in 53.4% of the analysed traditional foods from BSAC. The sample with highest β-carotene content was plums jam followed by kale soup and nettles sour soup. Once more, as it was expected, the group that most contributes for β-carotene intake is the vegetable and vegetables based foods followed by fruit or fruit based foods. Wild plum sauce was the sample that presented the highest β-cryptoxanthin content (63.8 µg/100 g of edible portion). Lycopene was quantified in about 43% of the analysed traditional foods from BSAC. The foods with highest lycopene content were watermelon juice, Ukrainian borsch and sautéed pickled green beans. The analysed traditional foods from BSAC can be considered good sources of bioactive compounds, although it was found a great variability on the content of carotenoids. Due to the putative health benefits of these compounds, the consumption of those with higher content of bioactive compounds should be encouraged and promoted.
- Determination of total folate content in traditional foods from Black Sea Area countriesPublication . Finglas, P.; Roe, M.; Sanches-Silva, A.; Vasilopoulou, E.; Trichopoulou, A.; D’Antuono, F.; Alexieva, I.; Kaprelyants, L.; Karpenko, D.; Kilasonia, Z.; Kocaoglu, B.; Mudryk, M.; Stroia, A.L.; Costa, H.S.Rationale and objectives: Folates occur naturally as a variety of polyglutamates, with different biological activity. Folate is a generic term for a water-stable vitamin from B-complex, which exists in many chemical forms. It is essential for many of the methylation reactions involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA, and hence plays a crucial role in cell division. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 400 µg/day (for both men and women) of dietary folate equivalents. Food folates have approximately 50% lower bioavailability than folic acid. The ingestion of a supplement of folic acid during the periconceptional period significantly reduces the risk of giving birth to a child with a neural tube defect. Materials and methods: The determination of the total folate content in foodstuffs was carried out by a microbiological assay (EN 14131:2003) with turbidimetric detection of the growth of the microorganism Lactobacillus casei, subspecies rhamnosus (ATCC 7469). The analyses were performed in an accredited laboratory according to ISO/IEC/17025. This method was applied to the selected traditional foods of European Project BaSeFood (Sustainable Exploitation of Bioactive Components from the Black Sea Area Traditional Foods). Results: Total folate content of cereals or cereals based foods ranged from 11.7 to 20.5 µg/100 g, while for vegetables based foods it varied between 5.2 µg/100 g (Ukrainian Borsch) and 97.2 µg/100 g (Nettles with walnut sauce). The highest total folate content was found in the group of products from oilseeds for roasted sunflower seeds (113 µg/100 g). All traditional foods containing fruits have a total folate content lower than 5 µg/100 g. The analytical results are expressed per 100 g of edible portion. Conclusions: Our results show that some of the analysed traditional foods are a good dietary source of natural folates in the diet of Black Sea Area countries. Fruit based foods presented the lower total folate content and products from oilseeds were the group with the highest content.
- Fatty acids composition and total fat content in traditional foods from Black Sea Area countriesPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Sanches-Silva, A.; Finglas, P.; D'Antuono, L.F.; Trichopoulou, A.; Alexieva, I.; Boyko, N.; Costea, C.; Fedosova, K.; Karpenko, D.; Kilasonia, Z.; Koçaoglu, B.; Costa, H.S.Objectives: This work was performed within the collaborative research program Sustainable exploitation of bioactive components from the Black Sea Area traditional foods (BaSeFood), funded by the European Commission. The overall objective of this study was to determine the total fat content and fatty acids (FA) composition among 33 traditional foods from six Black Sea Area countries (BSAC). Method: Total fat analysis was performed by an acid hydrolysis method with Soxhlet extraction (AOAC 948.15, 2000). Preparation of FA methyl esters was carried out by a combined method of methylation and transesterification. For FA determination chromatographic analysis was performed using a gas chromatograph with mass detector. FA methyl esters were separated in an Agilent HP-88 column (100 m x 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 µm). Helium was the carrier gas. Split ratio of 50:1 and an injection volume of 1.0 µL were used. FA methyl esters were identified by comparing the retention times of the standards with those of the samples. Results: Total fat content ranged between 0.138 ± 0.0 g/100 g for Uzvar (Ukraine) and 99.9 ± 0.0 g/100 g for flax oil and mustard oil. From the 33 analysed traditional foods, 27.3% had fat contents below the limit of quantification (< 0.1 g/100 g). The highest content for saturated and polyunsaturated FA was found for flax oil (15.3 ± 0.6 g/100 g and 58.5 ± 0.5 g/100 g, respectively). Mustard oil showed the highest value for monounsaturated FA (55.1 ± 0.7 g/100 g), although it also has a high polyunsaturated FA content (38.0 ± 0.6 g/100 g of edible portion). Conclusions: In general, there was a great variability of results with respect to the FA profile of the analyzed traditional foods from BSAC, since there is a wide range of traditional foods from different countries and cultures. Some traditional foods from BSAC are a good source of unsaturated FA which are related to several health benefits. Acknowledgements: The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n.º 227118.
- Lipid profile of traditional foods from Black Sea Area countriesPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Sanches-Silva, A.; Finglas, P.; Vasilopoulou, E.; Trichopoulou, A.; Alexieva, I.; Fedosova, K.; Kilasonia, Z.; Koçaoglu, B.; Koval, N.V.; Krechetnikova, A.; Pamfilie, R.; D’Antuono, F.; Costa, H.S.Este trabalho foi realizado no âmbito do Projecto "Exploração sustentável de componentes bioactivos de alimentos tradicionais da Região do Mar Negro - BaSeFood". Na maioria destes países, há falta de informação sobre a composição nutricional dos alimentos tradicionais, portanto, a investigação nutricional nestes alimentos é de grande importância. Os fitoesteróis (FE) são compostos bioactivos em muitos alimentos, especialmente nos de origem vegetal. Os FE são conhecidos por terem várias propriedades bioactivas com diversas implicações na saúde. Além disso, também o estudo da composição em ácidos gordos (AG) é de extrema importância porque pode ser associada a efeitos para a saúde, quer negativos quer benéficos, dependendo do tipo de AG. O objectivo do presente trabalho foi analisar a gordura total, FE e o perfil de AG em 33 alimentos tradicionais. A análise da gordura total foi realizada por meio de uma hidrólise ácida com extração de Soxhlet (AOAC 948.15, 2000, método acreditado segundo a norma ISO/IEC 17025). A preparação de ésteres metílicos de AG foi realizada por um método combinado de metilação e transesterificação. Para a análise cromatográfica foi utilizado com um GC-FID e um GC-MS. Uma coluna capilar de sílica fundida HP-88 (100 m x 0,25 mm Ø, 0,25 µm) foi usada para determinar AG e uma coluna DB-5 MS (30 m x 0,25 mm Ø, 0,25 µm) foi utilizada para análise de FE. As amostras foram analisadas em triplicado. Os resultados deste estudo em relação ao perfil de AG, demonstram que os alimentos tradicionais da Região do Mar Negro analisados são uma boa fonte de AG poliinsaturados para a dieta, especialmente ácido γ-linolénico n-6 e α-linolénico FA n-3, que estão relacionados com diversos benefícios para a saúde.
- New nutritional composition data on selected traditional foods consumed in Black Sea Area countriesPublication . Costa, H.S.; Albuquerque, T.G.; Sanches-Silva, A.; Vasilopoulou, E.; Trichopoulou, A.; D'Antuono, L.F.; Alexieva, I.; Boyko, N.; Costea, C.; Fedosov, S.; Hayran, O.; Karpenko, D.; Kilasonia, Z.; Finglas, P.BACKGROUND: Traditional foods are an important part of the culture, history, identity and heritage of a region or country and are key elements in dietary patterns. In most countries there is limited information on the nutritional composition of such foods and therefore there is a need to investigate, register and promote traditional foods. One of the aims within the ‘Sustainable exploitation of bioactive components from the Black Sea Area traditional foods’ (BaSeFood) project is to generate for the first time new data on the nutritional composition of traditional foods from six Black Sea Area countries to promote their sustainable development and exploitation. RESULTS: Thirty-three traditional foods were analysed in an accredited laboratory to determine their nutritional composition, and the data were fully documented. The nutrient content varied widely because of the nature and variety of the analysed foods. The energy content ranged between 4 kcal per 100 g for kvass southern and 900 kcal per 100 g for mustard oil, with the exception of the analysed teas, which did not contribute to energy intake. CONCLUSION: The use of a common methodology for the study of traditional foods will enable countries to further investigate these foods. Moreover, a new nutritional knowledge base of traditional foods from Black Sea Area countries will contribute to promote local biodiversity and sustainable diets by maintaining healthy dietary patterns within local cultures.
- New nutritional data on selected traditional foods from Black Sea area countriesPublication . Costa, H.S.; Albuquerque, T.G.; Sanches-Silva, A.; Vasilopoulou, E.; Trichopoulou, A.; D’Antuono, F.; Alexieva, I.; Boyko, N.; Fedosova, K.; Karpenko, D.; Kilasonia, Z.; Koçaoglu, B.; Stroia, A.L.; Finglas, P.Traditional foods are the key elements that differentiate the dietary patterns of each country. In most countries, there is limited information on the nutritional composition of such foods, therefore, there is a need to investigate, register and promote traditional foods. These foods are also a valuable contribution to the development and economic sustainability of rural areas and preservation of biodiversity. One of the aims within BaSeFood project is to provide new data on the nutritional composition of traditional foods of plant origin from six Black Sea area countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine) to promote their sustainable development and exploitation. Thirty-three traditional foods were selected per food group and country taking into account namely food biodiversity and food composition data. Chemical analyses to determine the nutritional composition of the selected traditional foods were performed and the data were fully documented and evaluated according to EuroFIR guidelines and standardised procedures. To assure the quality of analytical results accredited laboratories or laboratories with successful participation in proficiency testing schemes were chosen. Information on food description, recipe, ingredients, sampling plan, sample handling, component identification, method specification, value and quality assessment was collected for each of the traditional foods for inclusion in the available national food composition databases. The use of a common methodology for the study of traditional foods will enable countries to further investigate their traditional foods and to continue to update their national food composition databases. Moreover, knowledge base of traditional foods from Black Sea Area countries will contribute to promote local biodiversity and sustainable diets, by maintaining healthy dietary patterns within local cultures.
- Nutritional composition of traditional foods from Black Sea Area countriesPublication . Costa, H.S.; Albuquerque, T.G.; Sanches-Silva, A.; Vasilopoulou, E.; Trichopoulou, A.; Alexieva, I.; Costea, C.; Fedosova, K.; Hayran, O.; Kilasonia, Z.; Kolesnov, A.; Koval, N.V.; D’Antuono, F.; Finglas, P.A exploração sustentável de compostos bioactivos de alimentos tradicionais da Região do Mar Negro (BaSeFood) é um projecto de 3 anos, financiado pelo 7º Programa-Quadro. Este projecto consiste num consórcio de investigação contituído por 13 parceiros, designadamente Itália (dois), Reino Unido, Grécia, Portugal, Sérvia e seis países da Região do Mar Negro: Rússia, Ucrânia (dois), Roménia, Bulgária, Turquia e Geórgia. Os alimentos tradicionais são elementos característicos e únicos que diferenciam os padrões alimentares de cada país. Na maioria dos países, a informação sobre a composição nutricional de tais alimentos é ainda limitada, portanto, é necessário investigar, registar e promover os alimentos tradicionais. Um dos objectivos no âmbito do projecto BaSeFood é fornecer novos dados sobre a composição nutricional de alimentos tradicionais da Região do Mar Negro de origem vegetal para promover a sua exploração e o seu desenvolvimento sustentável. Trinta e três alimentos tradicionais foram prioritizados e a sua composição nutricional foi determinada. Os seguintes parâmetros foram determinados: humidade, cinza, azoto total (para o teor de proteína), gordura total, ácidos gordos individuais, colesterol, amido, açúcares totais, fibra alimentar, vitaminas (A, E, C e B2), folatos, minerais e oligoelementos (sódio, ferro, zinco e selénio). Verificou-se que existe uma grande variabilidade na composição nutricional dos alimentos do grupo dos frutos e vegetais analisados neste estudo, destacando a vasta gama de ingredientes disponíveis na Região do Mar Negro, bem como a sua biodiversidade.
- Provitamin A activity in traditional foods from Black Sea Area countriesPublication . Sanches-Silva, A.; Albuquerque, T.G.; Finglas, P.; Trichopoulou, A.; D'Antuono, L.F.; Alexieva, I.; Boyko, N.; Costea, C.; Fedosova, K.; Karpenko, D.; Kilasonia, Z.; Koçaoglu, B.; Costa, H.S.Introduction and objectives: Vitamin A is found in the form of retinol, retinal, retinoic acid or esters in animal sources, while in plant sources, it is in the form of provitamin A. Conjugated double bonds of carotenoids absorb light and are responsible for the brilliant colours of fruits and vegetables ranging from the yellow, orange to red. Moreover, they protect cells from oxidation and cellular damages, preventing of major chronic diseases. The aim of the present work was to determine the provitamin A activity in twenty eight traditional foods from six Black Sea Area countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine). Method: Chromatographic separation was performed with a UPLC® BEH guard-column (2.1 x 5 mm, 1.7 µm particle size) and a UPLC® BEH analytical column (2.1 x 50 mm, 1.7 µm particle size). The mobile phases were a gradient of ultrapure water and acetonitrile/methanol (containing 0.05 M ammonium acetate)/dichloromethane (75:20:5, v/v/v). The flow-rate was 0.5 mL/min and carotenoids were monitored at 450 nm. The concentration of each carotenoid was expressed as µg per 100 g of edible portion. Provitamin A activity was expressed as µg of retinol equivalents (RE) or retinol activity equivalents (RAE) per 100 g of edible portion. Results: One RE is equivalent to 1 µg retinol or 6 µg β-carotene or 12 µg of other provitamin A carotenes whileone RAE is equivalent to 1 µg retinol, 2 µg β-carotene dissolved in oil, 12 µg β-carotene or 24 µg of other provitamin A carotenoids. From the 28 traditional foods analysed, 12 did not present any RE or RAE. All the foods of the oilseeds or oilseed products did not present provitamin A activity. The traditional food with highest provitamin A activity was plums jam (Romania), followed by kale soup (Turkey) and nettle sour soup (Romania). Conclusions: Although a great variability was found in the carotenoids content, some of the analysed traditional foods can be considered excellent sources of provitamin A. Due to the putative health benefits of these compounds, the consumption of those with higher provitamin A activity should be promoted. Acknowledgements: The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n.º 227118.
- Proximate composition of plant origin traditional foods from Black Sea Area CountriesPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Costa, H.S.; Sanches-Silva, A.; Fontes, T.; Mota, C.; Santos, M.; Vasilopoulou, E.; Trichopoulou, A.; D’Antuono, F.; Alexieva, I.; Fedosova, K.; Karpenko, D.; Kilasonia, Z.; Kocaoglu, B.; Koval, N.; Stroia, A.L.; Finglas, P.Within the frame of the European Project BaSeFood (Sustainable Exploitation of Bioactive Components Black Sea Area traditional foods), thirty-three traditional foods from six Black Sea Area Countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine) were selected and prepared according to the traditional recipe, ingredients and traditional preparation methods. The aim is to promote and preserve traditional foods and to produce new and reliable data of the overall nutritional composition. Water content is being determined by gravimetric method, using a dry air oven at 101 °C ± 2 °C for 2 h, until constant weight. Total fat is being performed with an acid hydrolysis method followed by extraction using a Soxhlet with petroleum ether, as the extraction solvent. The obtained residue is dried for 1 h 30 min at 101 °C ± 2 °C, until constant weight, according to the acid hydrolysis method. Total dietary fibre, ash and total protein content are being determined by the AOAC official methods 985.29, 945.46 and 991.20, respectively. Total nitrogen for protein content is being determined by the Kjeldahl method in combination with a copper catalyst using a block digestion system. To assure the quality of analytical results, methods used in the laboratory are accredited by ISO/IEC/17025 or successful participation in proficiency testing schemes. Herbs, spices, aromatic plants and fermented products are those which presented the highest water content. In contrast, products from oilseeds have the lowest water content (3.94 g/100 g) and the highest total fat (58.2 g/100 g), total protein (20.8 g/100 g), ash (3.25 g/100 g), total sugars (45.8 g/100 g) and total dietary fibre (11.3 g/100 g) contents. For cereals and cereals based foods, a great variability in the water content was found (5.99 to 75.8 g/100 g). All results are given per 100 g of edible portion. Traditional foods from the same group have generally similar proximate analysis pattern. In the products from oilseeds, the highest content in macronutrients was found, except for water content. The proximates composition will be useful to include new nutritional data into national food composition databases.
- Proximate composition of traditional vegetable and fruit based foods from Black Sea Area countriesPublication . Costa, H.S.; Albuquerque, T.G.; Fontes, T.; Mota, C.; Vasilopoulou, E.; D’Antuono, F.; Alexieva, I.; Hayran, O.; Kaprelyants, L.; Karpenko, D.; Kilasonia, Z.; Pauk, A.; Stroia, A.L.; Finglas, P.In the last years, there has been an increased consumers interest and demand for traditional foods, which have an important role in the diets. Traditional foods can also be a valuable contribution to the development and economic sustainability of rural areas and the preservation of biodiversity. The aim of this study was to determine the proximate composition in traditional vegetable and fruit based recipes from Black Sea Area countries, in the frame of the European Project BaSeFood. The determination of the nutritional composition of selected traditional foods from Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine is being carried out within the frame of the BaSeFood Project. Six foods from the vegetables group were analysed: Ukrainian borsch; Transcarpathian green borsch; Nettle sour soup; Nettles with walnut sauce; Rodopian dried beans and Kale soup. From the fruits group, five traditional foods were analysed: Uzvar; Plums jam; Churchkhela; Rose jam and Fruit of the evergreen cherry laurel. Water content, ash, total protein, total fat, total sugars and total dietary fibre are being determined at an accredited laboratory by ISO/IEC 17025 or by successful participation in Proficiency testing schemes. Most vegetable based foods have water and ash content higher than fruits. The values for water ranged from 14.2 to 92.4 g/100 g for Rose jam and Nettle sour soup, respectively. With respect to total fat content, generally fruit based foods have lower levels (< 0.15 g/100 g) than vegetables (5.02 g/100 g). For total protein, Nettles with walnut sauce presented the highest content (9.6 g /100 g) and Rose jam the lowest content (0.3 g/100 g). For total dietary fibre, the values varied between 0.3 and 6.44 g/100 g. All analytical values are expressed per 100 g of edible portion. The proximate composition of the selected traditional foods from Black Sea Area Countries is important in order to elucidate their role in the dietary pattern of populations. The analysed samples present a high moisture content and low fat content. Foods with high water content are usually low in calories. Therefore, vegetable and fruit based traditional foods are not energy dense foods, while they are considered rich in other essential nutrients.