The United States cheese consumption has grown considerably over the years. Using Nielsen Homescan panel data for calendar years 2005 and 2006, this dissertation examines the effect of economic and socio-demographic factors on the demand for disaggregated cheese varieties and on the cheese industry in general. In the first essay, we estimated the censored demand for 14 cheese varieties and identified the respective own-price and cross-price elasticities. Also, non-price factors were determined affecting the purchase of each variety as well as the impact of generic dairy advertising. Results revealed that most of the natural cheese varieties have an elastic demand while the processed cheese products exhibited inelastic demands. Strong substitution and complementarity relationships were identified as well, and a two quarter carry-over effect of advertising was observed for most of cheese demands. Results also showed that household demographics affected the demands differently, depending on the nature of the cheese varieties. The second essay examined the impact of retail promotion on the decision to purchase private label processed cheese products using a probit model. A strong negative relationship was found between national brand manufacturer couponing activity and the private label purchase decision. Therefore, national brand couponing appears to be an effective strategy for manufacturers to deter private label growth. This analysis also shows that the decision of purchasing a private label cheese product is influenced by socio-demographic characteristics of the household, namely household income and size, age and education level of the household head, race, ethnicity, and location. In the third study, the feasibility of fortifying processed cheese with omega-3 is investigated. This ex-ante analysis took into account the market conditions and evaluates the increase in the demand for processed cheese needed to offset the costs of fortification in order to maintain the profitability of manufacturers like Kraft. Initially, the censored demand for processed cheese products is estimated using panel data; subsequently, the profitability of manufacturing such product is determined.This analysis shows that, within reasonable market conditions and reasonable marginal costs, the fortification of processed cheese products with omega-3 fatty acids indeed is feasible from a profitability standpoint to manufacturers.

Graduation date: 1993

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2010.

CAPES / O óleo de chia vem sendo amplamente estudado devido aos seus benefícios para a saúde humana, sendo fonte de ácidos graxos essenciais como o ômega-3 e ômega-6, além de diversos compostos antioxidantes. Contudo, assim como outros óleos ricos em ácidos graxos insaturados, ele possui baixa estabilidade oxidativa. A encapsulação do óleo de chia é uma alternativa para protegê-lo da luz e do oxigênio, fatores determinantes para o início das reações de degradação. O impacto da encapsulação sobre a proteção do óleo deve ser mensurado e no estudo de óleos e gorduras as técnicas de análise térmica vem ganhando destaque nos últimos anos devido a rapidez, precisão e facilidade de operação. Neste trabalho, o óleo de sementes de chia foi microencapsulado em cera de carnaúba e sua estabilidade térmica foi avaliada. Primeiramente, as micropartículas foram caracterizadas por Espectroscopia no Infravermelho Médio, Difração de Raios-X, Cromatografia Gasosa e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura, sendo verificado um alto índice de eficiência de encapsulação (97%), apresentando tamanhos micrométricos, formato esférico e sem fissuras. Calorimetria Diferencial de Varredura (DSC) foi utilizada nos modos isotérmico e não isotérmico a fim de determinar os parâmetros de Arrhenius do óleo in natura e microencapsulado. Foi possível verificar a efetiva proteção do óleo de chia conferida pelas micropartículas de cera de carnaúba, sendo detectado um aumento na temperatura de indução oxidativa de até 26º C nos ensaios não isotérmicos. As micropartículas contendo o óleo também foram submetidas ao ensaio de estabilidade acelerada em estufa. Os espectros obtidos através do Uv-Vis foram utilizados para análise quimiométrica e na determinação dos coeficientes de extinção a 232 e 270 nm, corroborando o aumento da estabilidade oxidativa observado nos ensaios calorimétricos. / Chia oil has been widely studied because of its benefits to human health, being source of important fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6, in addition to several antioxidant compounds. However, like other oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids, it has low oxidative stability. The encapsulation of chia oil is an alternative to protect it from light and oxygen, factors that determine the beginning of degradation reactions. The impact of encapsulation on oil protection should be measured and in the study of oils and fats the techniques of thermal analysis have been gaining prominence in recent years due to the speed, precision and ease of operation. In this work, the oil of chia seeds was microencapsulated in carnauba wax and its thermal stability was evaluated. Firstly, the microparticles were characterized by Medium Infrared Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, Gas Chromatography and Scanning Electron Microscopy. A high encapsulation efficiency index (97%) was verified, presenting micrometric sizes, spherical shape without cracks. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used in isothermal and non-isothermal modes in order to determine the Arrhenius parameters of the natural and microencapsulated oil. It was possible to verify the effective protection of the chia oil conferred by the microparticles of carnauba wax, and an increase in the oxidative induction temperature of up to 26º C was detected in non-isothermal tests. The microparticles containing the oil were also subjected to the schaal oven test and the spectra obtained through Uv-vis were evaluated by chemometrics and determination of the extinction coefficients at 232 and 270 nm, corroborating the increase in the oxidative stability observed in the calorimetric assays.

INTRODUÇÃO: Emulsão lipídica parenteral composta por óleo de peixe, rica em ácidos graxos ômega-3, é infundida associada a emulsões lipídicas convencionais, como parte da terapia nutricional parenteral. Em pacientes cirúrgicos, a infusão perioperatória de emulsão lipídica de óleo de peixe se associa à preservação de funções imunológicas e modulação favorável de mediadores inflamatórios pós-operatórios, com redução na frequência de complicações infecciosas e no tempo de internação em unidade de terapia intensiva e hospitalar. Os benefícios descritos encorajam a infusão parenteral isolada de emulsão lipídica de óleo de peixe, como fármaconutriente adjuvante no tratamento de pacientes cirúrgicos, independente da indicação de terapia nutricional parenteral. OBJETIVO: O presente estudo avaliou o efeito da infusão parenteral pré-operatória, por curto prazo, de emulsão lipídica de óleo de peixe isolada sobre a resposta imunológica pósoperatória e a evolução clínica imediata de pacientes com câncer gastrintestinal. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo, aleatório, duplo-cego e controlado em 63 pacientes cirúrgicos eletivos com câncer gastrintestinal. Os doentes receberam infusão por veia periférica (0,2g gordura/kg de peso corpóreo/dia) de emulsão lipídica parenteral de óleo de peixe (Omegaven® 10% - Fresenius-Kabi) ou emulsão lipídica parenteral controle (Lipovenos MCT® 10% - Fresenius-Kabi) durante os 3 últimos dias pré-operatórios. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas antes e após a infusão parenteral das emulsões lipídicas e nos 3º e 6º (apenas para citocinas) dias pósoperatórios. Analisou-se a concentração plasmática de IL-6 e IL-10 e a migração, fagocitose, explosão oxidativa e expressão de moléculas HLA-DR e CD32 leucocitárias. A frequência de complicações infecciosas e tempo de internação na unidade de terapia intensiva e hospitalar também foram avaliados no período pós-operatório imediato. RESULTADOS: No período pós-operatório, pacientes tratados com emulsão de óleo de peixe tiveram aumento de IL-10 (dia 3, p < 0,0001), diminuição de IL-6 (dia 3, p = 0,029) e IL-10 (dia 6 p < 0,0001), menor diminuição da explosão oxidativa leucocitária (p = 0,028), manutenção da porcentagem de monócitos exprimindo HLA-DR (p = 0,046) e CD32 (p = 0,025) e aumento da intensidade da expressão de CD32 por neutrófilos (p=0,010), em comparação a pacientes tratados com emulsão lipídica controle. A migração leucocitária não foi influenciada. Não foram encontradas diferenças na frequência de infecções e no tempo de permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva e hospitalar. CONCLUSÕES: A infusão pré-operatória, por curto prazo, de emulsão lipídica parenteral de óleo de peixe isolada, como fármaco-nutriente, melhora a resposta imunológica pós-operatória de pacientes com câncer gastrintestinal sem estar associada à melhora significativa na frequência de infecções e tempo de permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva e hospitalar. / BACKGROUND: Parenteral lipid emulsion composed by fish oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, is infused in addition to other standard lipid emulsions, as part of parenteral nutrition therapy. In surgical patients, the perioperative infusion of fish oil lipid emulsion is associated with immune functions preservation and favorably modulation of postoperative inflammatory mediators, with decreased infectious complications and length of intensive care unit and hospital stay. These reported benefits encourage the use of fish oil lipid emulsion alone, as a pharmacological adjuvant agent for the treatment of surgical patients, independent of parenteral nutritional therapy indication. AIM: This clinical trial assessed the effect of short-term preoperative infusion of fish oil lipid emulsion alone on postoperative immune response and immediate clinical outcomes of patients with gastroenterological cancer. METHOD: In a prospective, randomized, controlled and double-blind design, elective surgical patients with gastrointestinal cancer (n= 63) received, for the last 3 pre-operative days, peripheral infusion (0.2g fat/kg of body weight./d) of fish oil lipid emulsion (Omegaven® 10% - Fresenius-Kabi) or control lipid emulsion (Lipovenos MCT® 10% - Fresenius-Kabi). Peripheral blood samples were collected before and after lipid emulsion infusion at the 3rd and 6th (only for cytokines) postoperative days to analyze plasma concentration of IL-6 and IL-10, as well as leukocyte migration, phagocytosis, oxidative burst and expression of HLADR and CD32 molecules. Postoperative infections, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay were also measured. RESULTS: At postoperative period, patients treated with fish oil lipid emulsion had increase of IL-10 (day 3, p < 0.0001), decrease of IL-6 (day 3, p = 0.029) and IL-10 (day 6, p<0.0001), lower decrease of leukocyte oxidative burst (p=0.023), maintenance of the percentage of monocytes expressing HLA-DR (p=0.046) and CD32 (p=0,025) and increase of the intensity of CD32 expression on neutrophil surface (p=0,010), when compared to patients treated to control lipid emulsion. The leukocyte chemotaxis was not affected. No changes were observed on postoperative infections and length of intensive care unit and hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Short-term preoperative infusion of fish oil lipid parenteral emulsion alone improves postoperative immune response of patients with gastrointestinal cancer without benefit on infections frequency and length of intensive care unit and hospital stays.

L’utilisation de molécules issues d’une synthèse maîtrisée est une approche très intéressante pour les biologistes car elle met à leur disposition des molécules bien caractérisées et d’une grande pureté. Dans un premier temps, nous avons synthétisé des triglycérides structurés. Ce sont des molécules lipidiques dans lesquelles les acides gras d’intérêt sont estérifiés sur le squelette glycérol en position connue. Les acides gras introduits appartiennent à la série oméga 3 (acides linolénique (ALA), eicosapentaènoique (EPA) et docosahexaènoique (DHA). Ils sont estérifiés spécifiquement en position interne ou externes car la biodisponibilité des lipides alimentaires, apportés sous forme de triglycérides, varie en fonction de la position de l’acide gras sur le squelette glycérol. L’utilisation de ces lipides structurés a été validée par des études de biodisponibilité, in vivo, chez le rat, qui ont montré que l’ALA était très bien assimilé quelle que soit sa position sur le glycérol. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons synthétisé un acide a-linolénique fluorescent, sous forme d’ester méthylique, pour obtenir in fine un TG fluorescent. Celui-ci nous permettra suivre, par imagerie, le devenir de l’ALA dans des cellules en culture, modèles de la barrière intestinale. Les différentes molécules synthétisées sont apparues comme un outil fondamental permettant de mieux connaître le devenir métabolique des triglycérides dans l’organisme. / Biologists are very interested in the use of molecules obtained by a well-controlled synthesis because such molecules are well characterized and of high purity. First, we synthesized pure structured triglycerides in other words lipid molecules in which fatty acids are esterified onto a known position of the glycerol backbone. The introduced polyunsaturated fatty acids belong to the omega 3 series (linolenic (LNA),eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA acids). As the bioavailability of lipids depends upon their position on the glycerol skeleton , we prepared triglycerides esterified with omega 3 fatty acids either qt one of the external positions or at the internal one. The use of these structured lipids was validated byr in vivo studies on rats that showed a good assimilation of LNA whatever its position was. Secondly, we synthesized an ? linolenic acid as methyl ester labeled with a fluorophore To obtain in fine a fluorescent triglyceride. This last one will be use for the spatio-temporal follow-up, in culture cell, of the LNA. The synthesized molecules are a promising tool to better understand the triglycerides’ metabolism in the human being.

Les liposomes, vésicules à base de phospholipides, sont des systèmes colloïdaux utilisés en recherche et dans différents domaines industriels (pharmaceutique, cosmétique, nutrition). Néanmoins, leur développement se heurte au manque de diversité des sources de phospholipides (soja et jaune d’oeuf). Parallèlement, les méthodes industrielles d’extraction des phospholipides sont basées essentiellement sur l’utilisation de solvants organiques. Dans ce contexte, mon sujet de thèse a eu pour but d’étudier l’extraction de PL, par le CO2 supercritique, à partir de différentes sources avec comme objectif final la formulation de ces PL en liposomes. La démarche a consisté à explorer différents sous-produits de l’huilerie (tourteau d’oléagineux) et de la pêche (sous-produit de la coquille Saint Jacques), potentiellement riches en phospholipides, puis à mettre en place différentes techniques analytiques pour discriminer et quantifier les types de lipides. Parallèlement, l’influence de différents paramètres de l’extraction par CO2 supercritique sur la pureté des fractions obtenues est abordée ainsi qu’une première approche de formulation de PL en liposomes et la caractérisation de ces vésicules. / Liposomes, phospholipids vesicles, are colloidal systems used in search and different industrial fields (pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutrition). Nevertheless their development face lack of phospholipid sources (soya and egg yolk). At the same time, industrial methods to extract phospholipids use organic solvents. In this context, the phospholipid extraction were studied using a green technology from new different sources in order to formulate liposomes. Oil mill and fishery by-products (seed cake and scallop) were studied to know phospholipid quantities. Analytical techniques were established to discriminate and quantify lipid types. Simultaneously, varying the operating conditions of CO2 supercritical extraction allowed obtaining extracts with different purities and contents in phospholipids and a first study of liposome formulation was carried out.

Dentro da perspectiva da utilização de compostos fenólicos como antioxidantes naturais para minimizar os efeitos in vitro e in vivo do processo oxidativo dos lípides insaturados, foi realizada a monitoração dietética de duas dietas ricas em lípides das séries &#969;3 e &#969;6 e a suplementação de um chá de uma mistura de especiarias, em ratos Wistar, com o objetivo de verificar a influência dos compostos fenólicos, presentes nas especiarias, sobre o metabolismo de ácidos graxos das séries &#969;3 e &#969;6. Extratos e frações das especiarias mostarda, canela e erva doce foram obtidos e tiveram suas atividades antioxidantes testadas em sistemas aquoso (cooxidação de substratos com o uso de ácido linoléico/&#946;-caroteno) e lipídico (RANCIMAT) e o perfil de compostos fenólicos identificados e quantificados por CGMS. A partir de uma mistura de especiarias, foi elaborado um chá que foi fornecido aos animais de cada grupo dietético (&#969;3 e &#969;6). Após 45 dias de tratamento, os animais foram sacrificados e tiveram seus tecidos coletados para análise de TBARs e do perfil lipídico por CGMS. Todos os extratos das especiarias apresentaram atividade antioxidante equivalente ou superior ao BHT. Foram identificados por CGMS os ácidos fenólicos: catecol, salicílico e caféico. Foi obtido nos tecidos dos animais que o somatório do perfil de ácidos graxos saturados e dos insaturados apresentaram diferença entre os grupos testes e controles. Logo, no tecido cerebral, o EPA foi incorporado apenas no grupo &#969;3 que recebeu o extrato das especiarias. Já para o DHA, do mesmo grupo dietético, os tecidos hepático e renal também apresentaram incorporação aumentada em relação ao controle. No grupo dietético &#969;6, destaca-se um aumento no percentual de incorporação do ácido linoléico nos tecidos cardíaco e renal no grupo experimental. Enquanto, para o ácido araquidônico, houve diferença em todos os tecidos. Já, para os resultados da lipoperoxidação, observou-se que todos os tecidos dos animais que receberam o extrato das especiarias apresentaram baixos valores em comparação aos seus respectivos controles. Este estudo também avaliou a ação de compostos fenólicos do chá da mistura das especiarias mostarda, canela e erva doce sobre as enzimas lipoxigenase e cicloxigenase. O extrato da mistura das especiarias a 100 e 200 ppm foi adicionado no meio de reação contendo o substrato e a enzima lipoxigenase 1B da Sigma com 112.000 und/mg. A cicloxigenase foi obtida de vesículas seminais de carneiro e seguiu-se o mesmo protocolo de atividade para a lipoxigenase. Indometacina foi o inibidor utilizado como controle positivo da reação. Observou-se que a 200 ppm, como na concentração do chá (0,02%), a lipoxigenase foi inibida em aproximadamente em 90%. Já para a cicloxigenase, o extrato a 200 ppm resultou numa média de 75% de inibição da atividade da enzima, enquanto que a indomentacina apresentou uma média de 77% de inibição. A absorção aparente do chá das especiarias indicou que os fenólicos presentes na mistura foram absorvidos em média de 75%. O estudo histopatológico dos intestinos delgados dos animais não apresentou nenhuma diferença na área de absorção entre o grupo experimental e o controle. Estes dados sugerem, portanto, um efeito antioxidante das substâncias fenólicas identificadas nas especiarias sobre os ácidos graxos das séries &#969;3 e &#969;6, podendo agir diretamente: (1) no alimento (óleo), (2) com modificação do perfil lipídico, (3) proteção quanto à oxidação de tecidos e (4) inibição das enzimas da biossíntese dos eicosanóides. / Considering the perspective for the use of phenolic compounds as natural antioxidants to minimize in vitro and in vivo effects of oxidative processes on unsaturated lipids, this work monitored Wistar rats fed with two diets rich in &#969;3 and &#969;6 polyunsaturated lipids, supplemented with tea made from a blend of spices. The objective of the work was to study the influence of phenolic compounds present in spices on the metabolism of &#969;3 and &#969;6 fatty acids. Extracts and fractions of mustard, cinnamon and anise were obtained and had their antioxidant activity tested in aqueous (co-oxidation of substrates using linoleic acid/&#946;-carotene) and lipidic systems (RANCIMAT). Their phenolic compounds profile was determined and quantified using CGMS. The rats of each diet group (&#969;3 and &#969;6) were given tea made from a blend of spices and sacrificed after 45 days. Their tissues were then collected and analyses of TBARS and lipid profile were performed using CGMS. Ali the extracts of spices showed equal or higher antioxidant activity than BHT. The following phenolic acids were identified using CGMS: cathecol, salicilic and cafeic. It was observed that the total amount of the profile of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the rat tissues were different in the test group and the control group. In brain tissue, EPA was found only in the &#969;3 diet group which was given the tea. Concerning DHA, liver and kidney tissues of the same diet group showed higher concentrations than the control group. In the &#969;6 diet group, an outstanding increase of linoleic acid in cardiac and kidney tissues was found. Concerning the arachidonic acid, a difference in concentration was observed in ali tissues. Ali the tissues from rats given the tea presented a lower level of lipid peroxidation than their respective control groups. The present research also evaluated the action of phenolic compounds found in the tea made from the blend of mustard, cinnamon and anise on the enzymes lipoxygenase and cycloxygenase. The extract of the blend of spices, in the concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm, was added to the substrate and Sigma lipoxygenase 112.000 units/mg. Cycloxygenase was obtained from sheep seminal bladders and underwent the same protocol as lipoxygenase. Indomethacin was the inhibitor used as the positive control of the reaction. It was observed that in the concentration of 200 ppm (that is 0.02%, the same concentration as in the tea), lipoxygenase presented an average 90% inhibition. The extract of cycloxygenase 200 ppm presented 75% inhibition of the enzyme activity, while indomethacin presented an average 77% inhibition. It was found that around 75% of the phenolic compounds present in the tea made from the blend of spices were absorbed, thus leading to the conclusion that apparent absorption of the tea took place. Histopathologic examinations on the small intestines of the rats did not reveal any difference in the absorption area between the experimental and the control groups. Such results suggest therefore an antioxidant effect of the phenolic substances identified in the spices on the &#969;3 and &#969;6 fatty acids, this effect being possible directly (1) on the food (oil) , (2) modification of the profile fatty acids, (3) oxidation protection tissues and, (4) inhibition of enzymes of eicosanoids biosinthesys.

Background: Research suggests that a low omega-3 index may contribute to the low heart rate variability and the increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in bipolar disorders. However, so far, no intervention trial with EPA and DHA has been conducted in bipolar patients attempting to increase their heart rate variability. - Methods: 119 patients with bipolar disorder according to DSM-IV were screened, with 55 euthymic bipolar patients—owing to inclusion criteria (e.g. low omega-3 index (< 6%), SDNN < 60 ms.)—being enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, 12-week parallel study design with omega-3 fatty acids (4 capsules of 530 mg EPA, 150 mg DHA) or corn oil as a placebo, in addition to usual treatment. Heart rate variability as well as the omega-3 index were measured at baseline and at the endpoint of the study. - Results: A total of 42 patients (omega-3: n = 23, corn oil: n = 19) successfully completed the study after 12 weeks. There was a significant increase in the omega-3 index (value at endpoint minus value at baseline) in the omega-3 group compared to the corn oil group (p < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference in the change of the SDNN (value at endpoint minus value at baseline) between the treatment groups (p = 0.22). In addition, no correlation between changes in SDNN and change in the omega-3 index could be detected in the omega-3 group (correlation coefficient = 0.02, p = 0.94) or the corn oil group (correlation coefficient = − 0.11, p = 0.91). Similarly, no significant differences between corn oil and omega-3 group regarding the change of LF (p = 0.19), HF (p = 0.34) and LF/HF ratio (p = 0.84) could be demonstrated. - Conclusions: In our randomized, controlled intervention trial in euthymic bipolar patients with a low omega-3 index and reduced heart rate variability no significant effect of omega-3 fatty acids on SDNN or frequency-domain measures HF, LF and LF/HF ratio could be detected. Possible reasons include, among others, the effect of psychotropic medication present in our trial and/or the genetics of bipolar disorder itself. Further research is needed to test these hypotheses.

No description available.