Content of biological active and anticancerogenic substances in the fat fraction of ewes milk and dairy products and their consumption in humans

Tsonka Odjakova, Silviya Ivanova and Ljubomir Angelov

Abstract: The presented study is addressed to the growing market interest to the ewe’s milk as a natural source of essential components, like conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty and vaccenic acid, described to be effective substances for prevention of different human diseases. The work was focused on the transfer of certain organic components (fatty acids) in the food chain “plants–animal products-men” in the endemic regions of the Rhodope Mountain. The submitted multidisciplinary investigation offers new knowledge in the field of healthy nutrition of sheep raised in mountain regions and the dynamic changes of organic nutrients (saturated and unsaturated fatty acids) in the meadow vegetation during the grazing period. With the detailed mapping of the pasture areas, an evaluation of exactly distribution of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids in the meadow vegetation as important substrate for the following transformation in the animal organism in form of biological active, isomers – conjugated fatty acids (CLA), vaccenic acid, ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids can be provided. The detailed study of essential fatty acids, especially its derivatives – conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) and natural trans fatty acids in the ewe’s milk took an important place in the investigation. The dynamic changes in the available precursors in plant species affect the MUFA and PUFA-profiles of ewe’s milk and provide additional information to clarify the mechanism of CLA-synthesis and the content of natural trans fatty acids in raw milk. Settlement the human organism with biologically active and anticancerogenic substances can not be fully achieved by the consumption of milk and dairy products, so it is necessary to use rational nutrition and supplements/food additives/ based on omega-3, omega-6 and CLA.

Keywords: anticancerogenic substances (CLA); consumption in humans; fatty acids; trans-, ω-3 and ω-6 FA; еwes milk

Date published: 2020-04-30