Advances in the Use of Four Synthetic Antioxidants as Food Additives for Enhancing the Oxidative Stability of Refined Sunflower Oil (Helianthus annuus L.)

The present investigation was performed to evaluate the effects of various synthetic antioxidants (vitamin A, vitamin E, β-carotene, and BHT) on the oxidation of sunflower oil subjected to accelerated thermal storage at 60 °C for three months (12 weeks). The performance of the antioxidants studied was evaluated using several quality parameters: the free fatty acid value (FFA), primary oxidation (via the peroxide value (PV) and K232 value), secondary oxidation products (via the anisidine value (p-AV) and K270 value), and the total oxidation value (TOTOX). The fatty acid composition (FAC), oxidizability value (COX), iodine value (IV), and pigment content (chlorophyll and carotenoid) were also evaluated. The results revealed that the control sample of sunflower oil exhibited higher susceptibility to oxidative deterioration. Antioxidants at 200 ppm were more effective in preserving the oxidative stability of sunflower oil subjected to accelerated storage compared to the control oil. The smallest increases in all stability parameter indexes were recorded for antioxidant-supplemented sunflower oil. However, the IV and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were reduced. At 200 ppm, vitamin E and β-carotene showed the greatest stability in sunflower oil, while their combination with vitamin A at 100 ppm of each showed the lowest stability. In addition, synthetic antioxidants provided greater protection against the degradation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The highest level of PUFA degradation was recorded in the control oil, followed by the oil containing vitamin A. In conclusion, adding synthetic antioxidants to sunflower oil improves its stability during storage. However, some authors associated these molecules with a health risk due to carcinogenic effects as these molecules have been listed as “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS).