Stability of α‐Linolenic Acid and Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside in Flaxseed‐Fortified Macaroni

Research was conducted to determine the stability of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and α‐linolenic acid (ALA) in flaxseed‐fortified macaroni. Macaroni was fortified with whole ground flaxseed (GWF) at levels of 10% to 20% and then dried under low temperature (LT, 40°C), high temperature (HT, 70°C), or ultrahigh temperature (UHT, 90°C). Macaroni was also fortified with 15% ground hull (GHF) or steam‐treated whole ground flaxseed (GSWF) and dried under UHT. The dried macaroni was stored for 32 wk under ambient conditions. Approximately 80% to 95% of the SDG was recovered, indicating that SDG was stable during the 32‐wk storage period. Total lipid and ALA levels in all flaxseed macaroni treatments remained unchanged throughout the 32‐wk storage. This observation was consistent across the drying conditions and flaxseed addition levels. Conjugated diene (CD) values indicated that macaroni fortified with GWF did not oxidize significantly during the 32‐wk storage for the macaroni dried under HT or UHT. However, a significant increase ( P <0.05) in CD values for macaroni containing 10% and 20% flaxseed and dried using LT was observed at the 32‐wk storage period. Headspace volatile concentrations did increase over the storage period for macaroni containing GWF, but the increase was not significant. Significant increases ( P < 0.05) in oxidation were found by 24 wk in GHF‐ and GSWF‐fortified macaroni. GWF macaroni dried at UHT, HT, or LT could be used as a way to improve our dietary consumption of ALA and SDG. However, use of steam as a method to inactivate unwanted enzyme activity is not recommended.