Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #179303
Title: MEASURING ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTIVENESS IN FOODS

Author
item DECKER, ERIC - UNIV. OF MASSACHUSETTS
item Warner, Kathleen
item RICHARDS, MARK - UNIV. OF MINNESOTA

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2005
Publication Date: 6/3/2005
Citation: Decker, E.A., Warner, K.A., Richards, M. 2005. Measuring antioxidant effectiveness in foods. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 53:4303-4310.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: One of the major factors affecting the activity of antioxidants that scavenge free radicals in foods is their partitioning behavior in lipids and water. For example, hydrophilic antioxidants are often less effective in oil-in-water emulsions than lipophilic antioxidants, whereas lipophilic antioxidants are less effective in bulk oils than hydrophilic antioxidants. In vitro assays that measure free radical scavenging activity assays such as the ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), Trolox-equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC) and oxygen radical absorbant capacity (ORAC) are performed in the absence of lipids. This means that the impact of antioxidant partitioning is not evaluated thus leading to lack of correlation between the results of in vitro assays and antioxidant performance in foods. In order to accurately evaluate the potential of antioxidants in foods, models must be developed that have the chemical, physical and environmental (e.g. pH and ionic strength) conditions expected in food products. Since these factors are not consistent throughout all food systems, individual models must be developed. In this paper we will outline models for three types of foods lipids: bulk oil; oil-in-water emulsions and muscle foods. These models and recommendations are not intended to be inclusive of all possible methods to measure lipid oxidation and antioxidant activity. In some cases a researcher may want to add additional analytical techniques. However, if possible we recommend following these basic procedures so that results can be compared more easily from one paper to another.