Hybrid palm oil (Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis) supplementation improves plasma antioxidant capacity in humans

Abstract

Hybrid palm oil obtained from interspecific hybrid Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis palm (HPO) has been recently proved to have a favorable impact on human plasma lipids related to cardiovascular disease risk factors. In the present work, we describe for the first time, the functional effect of crude HPO supplementation on human antioxidant plasma/serum status as assessed by the total phenolic content (Folin–Ciocalteu), ORAC and TEAC assays. One hundred sixty eligible participants (>50 years) were randomized and assigned to one of the two treatments: 25 mL hybrid palm oil (HPO group) or 25 mL extra virgin olive oil (EVOO group) daily for 3 months. This study showed that supplementation of 25 mL of HPO for a period of 3 months significantly increased (p < 0.01) the total phenolic content (19.2%) as well as the antioxidant capacity of human plasma measured by both ORAC (92.1%) and TEAC (42.9%) methods. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between HPO and EVOO groups in a repeated measures analysis of variance for TPC (p = 0.344), TEAC (p = 0.217), and ORAC (p = 0.318) values. These results confirm that HPO can be considered a promising tropical edible oil with potential beneficial health effects. Practical applications: The understanding of the antioxidant properties of an edible oil in vivo is of primary importance when evaluating its nutritional/functional characteristics and/or its potentiality to serve as an active ingredient for functional food preparations. The results of this study confirm that HPO can be considered a promising tropical edible oil with beneficial health properties since it is able to improve the antioxidant status of plasma in humans. This 3‐month randomized trial reported examines and compares the effects of 25 mL/day supplementation of crude hybrid palm oil (Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis), thought to be a possible tropical equivalent of the Mediterranean extra‐virgin olive oil, to the ones of extra‐virgin olive oil, which is considered as a gold standard in the functional dietary oils skyline. Interestingly, at the end of the third month of study, the effects obtained by the supplementation with hybrid palm oil are similar to those provided by the extra‐virgin olive oil supplementation. In fact, hybrid palm oil consumption has been shown to significantly increase the total phenolic content (19.2%, p < 0.01) as well as the antioxidant capacity of human plasma measured by both TEAC (42.9%, p < 0.01) and ORAC (92.1% p < 0.01) assays.

Enzymatically interesterified hybrid palm stearin as an alternative to conventional palm stearin

“…These results suggest that the HPS/PKO blend offered both functional (since oleic acid is stable to oxidation and frying (O'Brien, 2009)) and nutritional advantages. Further, several studies have reported the favorable impacts of HPO on plasma lipids related to cardiovascular diseases by highlighting the relationship between oleic acid and the decrease in low-density lipoproteins (or "bad cholesterol") in the blood Mattson & Grundy, 1985;Ojeda et al, 2017). Therefore, PS could be replaced totally or partially by HPS to achieve dietary substitution of saturated palmitic acid by monounsaturated oleic acid of the hybrid palm, thus providing a mix with greater health benefits Ojeda et al, 2017;Pacetti et al, 2016).…”

“…Therefore, hybrid palm oil (HPO) [obtained from the interspecific hybridization of African oil palm and American oil palm (Elaeis guineensis x Elaeis oleifera)] has been introduced to the food industry as a new and healthy alternative to traditional palm oil due to its high oleic fatty acid concentration. Recent studies have reported that HPO has a favorable impact on human plasma lipids and antioxidant plasma which are related to cardiovascular disease risk factors; therefore, HPO has been referred to as the "tropical equivalent of olive oil" Ojeda et al, 2017). In addition, from an agronomic point of view, hybrid palm species offer advantages such as extension of the shelf life of the crop due to low growth rate and greater resistance to pests and diseases in contrast to the traditional palm (E. guineensis), thus addressing phytosanitary problems that are detrimental to large cultivation areas (Mozzon, Pacetti, Lucci, Balzano, & Frega, 2013).…”

“…However, commercial utilization of HPO as a lipid source for industrialized products is limited due lack of information on HPO. Further, previous studies on HPO have focused on agronomic or nutritional aspects and concluded that it is a healthier alternative to traditional palm oil Mozzon, Pacetti, Frega, & Lucci, 2015;Mozzon et al, 2013;Ojeda et al, 2017). However, no research has been conducted on the physic-chemical feasibility of replacing palm oil with HPO or, specifically, replacing the commonly used PS with hybrid palm stearin (HPS).…”

Relationship between vitamin intake and total antioxidant capacity in elderly adults

“…The data of the participant were obtained in the initial phases of the "Effects of the Consumption of Hybrid Palm Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Emerging and Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors" study (Mozzon et al 2013, Lucci et al 2016. This study was conducted in compliance with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki.…”

“…Using ORAC, we obtained values for 114 participants and quantified phenols for 117 individuals (Ojeda et al 2016). …”