Effects of natural antioxidants on the stability of omega-3 fatty acids in dog food

Abstract Introduction The efficiency of five natural antioxidants (curcumin, cranberry, pomegranate, grape seed extract (GSE), and açai berry) in reducing lipid oxidation in dog food was compared to that of the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Material and Methods In two different experiments content parameters were measured after 12 days of storage at 55°C. In experiment one, the natural antioxidants were added at 0.2% and BHA at 0.02% of the food (DM basis), and samples were analysed for thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). In experiment two, the effects of GSE and curcumin at two admixture proportions (0.1% and 0.2% of food DM) on omega-3 fatty acid (FA) content were evaluated. Results TBARS values were lower than the control (P < 0.01) for curcumin, cranberry, pomegranate, and GSE but not for the açai berry (P > 0.05). By day 12, although there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the two curcumin treatments, they preserved higher concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (P < 0.05) than the BHA and control treatments. The addition of GSE or BHA to dog food held (P < 0.05) the concentrations of EPA higher than the control. The concentrations of EPA and DHA for the 0.2% GSE treatment were greater (P < 0.05) than the 0.1% GSE treatment. Grape seed extract at 0.2% lost less (P < 0.05) EPA concentration than BHA. Conclusion The present results showed that, except for açai berry, the tested natural antioxidants could be used as a substitute for BHA in dog food.