Glycation of tilapia protein hydrolysate decreases cellular antioxidant activity upon gastrointestinal digestion.

Changes in structural characteristics and antioxidant activity of tilapia hydrolysate glycated with glucose, fructose, or xylose at 90 °C for 12 h, and following gastrointestinal (GI) digestion were investigated. Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) band between 1,800 and 1,400 cm confirmed the structural modifications of hydrolysate under glycations. Glycation drastically increased and scavenging activities ( < 0.05) as well as ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Xylose was the most effective sugar for glycation, yielding the highest chemical antioxidant activities ( < 0.05). However, glycated hydrolysates exhibited lower cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) on HepG2 cell when compared to hydrolysates. The extensive glycation of hydrolysates resulted in lower GI digestibility as confirmed by the FTIR spectra of C[bond, double bond]O, C-N, N-H, C-C, C-O, and C-H stretching vibrations. Glycation of tilapia hydrolysates only improved chemical antioxidant activities, but alleviated CAA, especially upon simulated GI digestion.