The Sum of Plasma Fatty Acids iso16:0, iso17:0, -18:1, -CLA, and -18:1 as Biomarker of Dairy Intake Established in an Intervention Study and Validated in the EPIC Cohort of Gipuzkoa.

The questioned reliability of 15:0, 17:0, and -16:1 acids as biomarkers of dairy fat intake also questions the relationship between the intake of these products and their health effects. Two studies were conducted in the same geographical region. In an intervention study, volunteers followed a diet rich in dairy products followed by a diet without dairy products.

Changes in terpenoid composition of milk and cheese from commercial sheep flocks associated with seasonal feeding regimens throughout lactation.

Changes in the terpenoid content of milk and cheese from commercial sheep flocks monitored throughout lactation in the Cantabrian area of northern Spain were investigated. The flocks followed the same seasonal feeding strategy during lactation: indoor feeding in winter (early lactation) based on concentrate and forage; part-time grazing in the valley in early spring (mid lactation); and from mid spring on (late lactation), flocks were managed under extensive mountain grazing. In the present study design, seasonal feeding and lactation stage were intrinsically linked and could not be considered in isolation, and a holistic approach was necessary to consider the whole production management of the commercial flocks studied.

Commercial sheep flocks--fatty acid and fat-soluble antioxidant composition of milk and cheese related to changes in feeding management throughout lactation.

Fatty acids (FAs), tocopherols and retinoids were analysed in raw milk and cheese from six commercial sheep flocks monitored from early lactation in winter to late lactation in summer. In winter, animals received concentrate and forage indoors; in early spring, animals grazed part-time on cultivated or natural valley grasslands; and from mid spring on, animals were kept outdoors constantly on mountain natural pastures. Mountain grazing in late lactation significantly increased the amount of healthy desirable unsaturated FAs such as C18:1t11 (VA), C18:2c9t11 (RA), C18:2t11c13, C18:3c9c12c15 (ALA) and C20:5c5c8c11c14c17 (EPA), and those of α-tocopherol and α-tocotrienol of milk and cheese.

Simultaneous analysis of carotenoids and tocopherols in botanical species using one step solid-liquid extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography.

Carotenoids and tocopherols from botanical species abundant in Atlantic mountain grasslands were simultaneously extracted using one-step solid-liquid phase. A single n-hexane/2-propanol extract containing both types of compounds was injected twice under two different sets of HPLC conditions to separate the tocopherols by normal-phase chromatography and carotenoids by reverse-phase mode. The method allowed reproducible quantification in plant samples of very low amounts of α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols (LOD from 0.

Rapeseed and sunflower oilcake as supplements for dairy sheep: animal performance and milk fatty acid concentrations.

The influence of different amounts of oilseed cake (rapeseed and sunflower) on animal production parameters and fatty acid (FA) concentrations of the milk was studied in a Latxa dairy sheep experimental flock, both in winter (50% oilcakes; indoor feeding) and in spring (30% oilcakes; part-time grazing). The two different levels of the oilcakes tested did not affect animal production parameters or milk yield. Milk fat content and the fat/protein ratio decreased significantly with 30 and 50% sunflower cake.

Interannual and geographical reproducibility of the nutritional quality of milk fat from commercial grazing flocks.

The objective of the present work was to study the differences in the fatty acid (FA) composition of raw sheep milk fat under commercial milk production conditions throughout lactation, in two consecutive years. Particular attention was placed on the C18:2cis-9,trans-11 isomer, C18:1trans-11 acid, and unsaturated FA as the feeding regimen of 10 commercial flocks of latxa dairy sheep changed from indoor feeding to part-time grazing conditions (from early spring) as traditionally practiced in the Basque Country (Northern Spain). Farms located at an altitude of between 600 and 700 m, in two different geographical areas with different rainfall were selected.

Effects of seasonal changes in feeding management under part-time grazing on terpene concentrations of ewes' milk.

Terpene composition of ewes' raw milk from nine commercial flocks was analysed from February to July. Ewes' diet consisted of concentrate and conserved forage in winter (indoor feeding) and part-time grazing from spring (transition and outdoor feeding). Regardless of the feeding, limonene and β-phellandrene were the most abundant monoterpenes and β-caryophyllene showed the highest concentrations among sesquiterpenes.

Seasonal changes in the technological and compositional quality of ewe's raw milks from commercial flocks under part-time grazing.

Rennet coagulation parameters, curd texture and gross compositional variables were studied in ewes' raw milk samples from nine commercial flocks using different concentrate:forage ratios and grazing times. From early lactation to March flocks were fed concentrate pellets and hay whereas from April to the end of lactation flocks were allowed to graze from 6 to 19 h/day receiving concentrate supplementation in the morning and evening. Milk from late-lactation flocks, when allowed to graze, showed higher content of fat, dry matter, protein, casein, soluble protein, total calcium, curd firmness and curd resistance to compression than the milk from early lactation flocks.

Winter/spring changes in fatty acid composition of farmhouse Idiazabal cheese due to different flock management systems.

Typically, two different flock managements are employed by basque sheepherders in winter and spring. Thus, seasonal changes in the fatty acid (FA) composition of Idiazabal PDO farmhouse cheeses were studied. Ewe's raw milk cheeses elaborated in winter and spring were collected after 120 days of ripening from 10 Idiazabal PDO farmhouses.

GSTT1 and GSTM1 gene copy number analysis in paraffin-embedded tissue using quantitative real-time PCR.

GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes possess an inherited deletion associated with a lack of enzyme activity. The heterozygous condition of this deletion is difficult to determine in low-quality DNA with existing PCR protocols. We designed and validated a multiplex real-time PCR assay by adapting the DeltaDeltaCt relative quantification method for the analysis of GSTT1 and GSTM1 markers to accurately differentiate the three genotypes ( *1/1, *1/0, and *0/0) in degraded DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue.

Hygienic quality of ewes' milk cheeses manufactured with artisan-produced lamb rennet pastes.

The use of artisan-produced lamb rennet pastes, but not any of the other commercial animal rennets, imparts a characteristic flavour to the cheese, so most Mediterranean ewes' milk cheeses are coagulated with this kind of rennet paste. In contrast to the advantages of using lamb or kid rennet pastes from the sensory point of view, questions are still raised as to their hygienic quality. The goal was to examine the microbiological and enzymic quality of lamb rennet pastes prepared by cheese manufacturers for their own use, and evaluate the hygienic quality of raw sheeps' milk cheeses made with them, using Idiazabal cheese as a model.

Changes in lipid fractions and sensory properties of Idiazabal cheese induced by lipase addition.

This work studied the addition of an adequate lipase to enhance lipolysis reactions and the development of piquant flavour and sharp odour in Idiazabal cheese, as an alternative to the use of lamb rennet paste. Cheeses were manufactured from bulk raw ewes' milk in 50 l vats with commercial bovine rennet and 80 lipase units of pregastric or 180 lipase units of fungal lipase and ripened for 180 days. A higher lipolytic activity was induced by lipase addition promoting strong changes in odour and flavour attributes.

Habitual fish intake is associated with decreased LDL susceptibility to ex vivo oxidation.

A sample of 101 free-living individuals eating their habitual diets had fish consumptions ranging from less than one serving per week to over five servings per week. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between the amounts of EPA (20:5), DHA (22:6), and total n-3 PUFA ingested with the diet and their amounts in serum and in the phospholipid and cholesterol ester fractions of isolated LDL. No statistically significant correlations were observed between the intake and the serum or LDL amounts of any other FA [total n-6 PUFA, linoleic acid (18:2), arachidonic acid (20:4), monounsaturated FA, or saturated FA)].