Trans Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Contents in Brazilian Refined Soybean Oil

This study examined the concentration (mg/g) of trans polyunsaturated fatty acid (TPFA) in five soybean oil brands by gas-liquid chromatography. Tricosanoic acid methyl ester was used as the internal standard. All samples analyzed presented trans 18:2 fatty and trans 18:3 acids in detectable amounts. The concentration of TPFA ranged from 5.8 to 30.2 mg/g, with a mean concentration value of 18.4 mg/g. Trans 18:3 fatty acids had the highest TPFA group concentrations, which ranged from 3.9 to 16.3 mg/g. The main isomer of this group presented the 9c, 12c, 15t configuration. For trans 18:2 fatty acids, concentrations ranged from 1.9 to 14.0 mg/g with a mean value of 8.1 mg/g. Alpha-linolenic acid (all cis) concentrations ranged from 30.7 to 60.6 mg/g and their degree of isomerization ranged from 6.0 to 31.5, indicating that the deodorization process varies from one producer to another. From per capita consumption of soybean oil brands in Brazil and their TPFA concentrations, it is possible to conclude that their contribution to the average TPFA intake per person in Brazil is 0.4 g/d.