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The effects of moisture, propionic acid, sodium hydroxide and anaerobiasis on the stability of vitamin E in stored barley

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. A. Rice
Affiliation:
Veterinary Research Laboratories, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland
W. J. Blanchflower
Affiliation:
Veterinary Research Laboratories, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland
C. H. McMurray
Affiliation:
Veterinary Research Laboratories, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Summary

Two experiments were designed to measure the effect of current barley storage systems on vitamin E stability.

Whereas propionic acid and sodium hydroxide treatment of moist barley results in destruction of vitamin E, neither moisture per se nor anaerobic storage has such a detrimental effect. The destruction is most severe and rapid with alkali treatment, the reaction having substantially reached completion by 5 days. All the vitamin E isomers were affected to varying degrees, the order of susceptibility to decay being α-tocopherol > γ-tocopherol > α-tocotrienol > γ-tocotrienol.

Possible explanations are given as to why the findings incriminating propionic acid in vitamin E destruction are at variance with currently held opinion.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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References

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