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... addition of omega-3- rich oils, such as flaxseed, algae, menhaden, and krill, may have potential in developing nutritionally enhanced surimi-based products, according to new research ... the study, published in food chemistry, suggests that the addition of flaxseed, algae, menhaden, krill, or blended oils can increase omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (pufas) in surimi seafood – offering potential for use as functional or nutraceutical foods ... however, the researchers added that surimi products with enriched higher levels of omega-3 oils suffered from greater levels of lipid oxidation, which may lead to the development of rancid tastes ... “since surimi seafood is traditionally marketed as a low fat and high protein source, this approach allowed nutrification of surimi products with health-beneficial omega-3 pufas without changing protein content or majorly altering texture, while improving colour,” said the authors, led by dr jacek jaczynski, from west virginia university, usa ... healthy surimi food products enriched with omage-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are in increasing demand due to demonstrated health benefits ... jaczynski and colleagues said that foods enriched with omega-3 pufas “provide a means to achieve desired biochemical effects of these nutrients without the ingestion of dietary supplements, medications or a major change in dietary habits ... ” “since surimi seafood comprises formulated food products associated with marine sources of wide acceptance, it is a logical vehicle for increasing the consumption of omega-3 pufas without the need for dietary supplements in a pill or capsule form,” they added ... however, one potential consequence of omega-3 fortification is increased lipid oxidation, which may lead to rancidity, texture and colour deterioration, said jaczynski and co-workers ... in the new study, surimi seafood was nutritionally-enhanced with omega-3 pufas-rich oils including flaxseed, algae, menhaden, krill and a blend (flaxseed:algae:krill, 8:1:1) to test the chemical characterization and oxidation stratus of omega-3 fatty acids in surimi products and to determine the physicochemical properties (colour and texture) of the omega-3-enhanced surimi seafood
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