A meat food product for infant nutrition enriched with ю-3 fatty acids and assessment of its effectiveness in an in vivo experiment
The objective. Correction of the formulation and technology of canned meat, enriched with ю-3 fatty acids, for industrial production; investigation of the biological value of proteins in the developed product and its impact on lipid metabolism in an in vivo experiment. A meat food product for infant nutrition enriched with т-3 fatty acids and assessment of its effectiveness in an in vivo experiment Materials and methods. The object of study was a ready-to-eat canned meat product for infants older than 12 months in the form of large-ground shaped meat pieces fortified with ю-3 fatty acids. The fatty acid composition of the product was determined by the method of gas liquid chromatography; the biological value of the product (protein efficiency ratio, body weight gain, protein digestibility and pure utilisation) were examined by traditional experimental methods on laboratory rats, biochemical parameters of lipid metabolism were determined on an automatic biochemical analyser BioChem FS 360 (USA). Results. The parameters of nutritional value and nutrient adequacy of the developed product corresponds to the requirements made for canned meat for infant nutrition. Introduction of long-chain ю-3 fatty acids permits to obtain a high level of fatty acid balance as compared with the reference level (mature human milk) and obtain their ratio in the product ю6: m3 - 7-10:1. As has been found, introduction of vitamin Е as an antioxidant enhances the fatty acid preservation in the formulation of the product during the storage period. Examination of the product in experiments on laboratory rats showed its high biological value and positive effect on blood parameters that characterise lipid metabolism. Over the experimental period, we could observe weight gain in the control group of rats by 50%, in the experimental - by 60%, the protein intake being equal, and the protein efficacy ratio amounting to 2.91 ± 0.12 and 3.35 ± 0.13, respectively. In the experimental group as compared with control, the levels of total cholesterol (1.67 ± 0.07 mmol/l and 2.09 ± 0.08 mmol/l, respectively), and also triglycerides (0.63 ± 0.03 mmol/l and 0.77 ± 0.03 mmol/l) were significantly lower. Conclusion. The developed canned meat has a high nutritional and biological value and might be recommended for mass production and use as a meat meal for feeding children beginning from 12 months and older.