Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 28, 1110-1117, Copyright © 1987 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Comparison of analytical methods for monitoring autoxidation profiles of authentic lipids
RS Kim and FS LaBella
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine, Winnipeg, Canada.
Oxidation profiles of polyunsaturated fatty acids, their esters, and fatty
alcohols were compared by several commonly employed analytical procedures.
The extent of lipid peroxidation varied with the structure of the specific
lipid class. The rate of oxidation was greater for polyenoic lipids than
for dienoic counterparts. In general, the maximum diene conjugation and
thiobarbituric acid reactivity occurred earlier for acids than for esters
or alcohols containing identical numbers of carbon chains and double bonds.
For each homologous series there were, initially, increasing levels of
conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid-reactive products, which then
diminished in association with rising levels of carbonyl and fluorescent
products. At late stages of oxidation, conjugated diene or thiobarbituric
acid reactivity was not indicative of total peroxidation products. Thus,
supplementary measurements are required to detect secondary degradation
products of polyunsaturated fatty acids.