The content of nutrients and fatty acids profile in different oilseeds

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine nutrients content of 4 oilseeds (sunflower, soybean, flaxseed and rapessed) and fatty acid profile of oils obtained from the seeds. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), nitrogen free extract (NFE) and fat content of the seeds were determined by standard laboratory methods and procedures. Significant (P<0.05) differences in composition of all the analyzed seeds were found. Fatty acid profile analysis was performed using the Agilent 6890 A GC machine. The analyzed oils mainly composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with the exception of rapeseed oil which primarily contained monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Flaxseed oil has significantly (P<0.05) proven to be the richest in PUFA content (76.46%), but on the other hand it contained the least amount of MUFA (13.47%). The saturated fatty acid (SFA) content, except for soybean oil, was below 10%. The most optimal ratio between n-6 and n-3 unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) was found in rapeseed oil (2.22:1). From the fatty acid profile of analyzed oils significant (P<0.05) differences in the content of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, arachidic, eicosenoic, behenic and lignoceric acids were detected.

Keywords

• fatty acids
• nutrients
• oilseeds
• pressing
• profile
• polyunsaturated fatty acids
• monounsaturated fatty acids
• saturated fatty acid
• unsaturated fatty acids