Abstract:
Inadequate fat diet is one of the most important reasons for the development of the most widespread non-communicable diseases, such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. One of the most common forms of such
nutrition is the consumption of thermally processed fats and oils, which have general toxicity, embryotoxicity, and carcinogenic effects due to the accumulation of peroxides, epoxides, aldehydes, trans compounds, and other toxic compounds. Aim: To determine the condition of the organs and tissues of the digestive system when consuming heat-treated sunflower oil. Methods: Thermal peroxidation of sunflower oil was carried out in the presence of H2O2 at temperatures of 125, 150 and 180 °C. The degree of peroxidation was assessed by the level of diene conjugates and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). The effect of oral applications of thermal peroxide sunflower oil (TPSO) on the condition of the digestive system was
assessed in rats by the degree of increase in the level of biochemical markers of inflammation: elastase activity, urease activity and MDA content.The level of these parameters was determined in the mucous membranes of the cheeks (MMOC), stomach, small and large intestines, as well as in the liver.
Results: The maximum increase in the content of diene conjugates and MDA is observed when the oil is heated for 60 minutes at +180 °C. After 5 days of TPSO applications at a dose of 2.25 g/kg, a significant increase in elastase activity by 36–156% (most in the stomach), urease activity by 30-278% (most in the liver) and MDA content by 26-210% (most in the liver). When summing up the degree of increase in the level of biochemical parameters in percent, it turned out that the highest degree of damage when consuming TPSO is observed in the liver (524%), in second place (244–270%) were the mucous membranes of the stomach and colon, and the lowest sensitivity to TPSO was MMOC. Conclusion: Even short-term consumption of thermally processed sunflower oil causes serious pathological changes in the digestive system, especially the liver.
