Effect of initial slight oxidation on stability of polyunsaturated fatty acid/protein mixtures under controlled atmospheres

A mixture of unsaturated fatty acids (FA), mainly linolenic acid, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was incubated under several different atmospheres to study the effect of these atmospheres on the stability of FA to oxidation. Four experiments were carried out simultaneously, which consisted of the incubation of the FA/BSA mixture under air, nitrogen, air in the presence of 200 ppm of butylated hydroxytoluene, and air for 6 h and then under nitrogen. The four experiments were tested for lipid oxidation and color changes by measuring absorbances at 234 and 270 nm, formation of thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances, and color differences and yellowness index. The samples that were oxidized with air before storage under nitrogen were the most stable against lipid peroxidation and exhibited the smallest color changes. These results suggest that a slight and controlled lipid oxidation improved the oxidative stability of FA/BSA mixtures.