Oxidative stability of marine oils as affected by added wheat germ oil

Abstract

Marine oils, such as seal blubber and menhaden oils, offer a wide range of health benefits and play a critical role in many functions in the human body. These oils are highly vulnerable to oxidation due to their high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In this study, the stabilizing effect of blending of seal blubber and menhaden oils with antioxidant rich-wheat germ oil was investigated. Conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were used as indicators of oxidative stability. Fatty acid composition of the original oils and blends was determined using gas chromatography, while tocopherol content was assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that blending with wheat germ oil increased the tocopherol content of seal blubber and menhaden oils. The oxidative stability of blended seal blubber and menhaden oils was improved, and higher oxidative stability was positively correlated with higher percentage of added wheat germ oil.