The antioxidant system used in mayonnaise production is efficient mainly in relation to oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Consequently the shelf-life of the product is large (six months). However very little is known about the stability of cholesterol present in mayonnaise introduced with the eggs (raw material). The oxidation of cholesterol in mayonnaise was confirmed quantifying 7-Ketocholesterol (7-Keto) and 25-Hydroycholesterol (25-OH) using HPLC. The following occurrences were observed: 7-Keto,1.99±0.59µg/g, in recently manufactured mayonnaise (approximately 15 days), 7-Keto, 8.30±4.03 to 22.86±3.06µg/g, and 25-OH, 2.21±1.94 to 13.98±2.72µg/g, in mayonnaise samples (A,B,C,D and E) with 30 to 210 days after production, and 7-Keto, 8.44±6.78µg/g, in mayonnaise samples collected at domiciles (products in use stored under refrigeration). The sum between 7-Keto and 25-OH from A/E samples amounted to 2.07-4.94% in relation to cholesterol (50.66±3.08-73.36±3.53mg/100g). Results here obtained are relevant in relation to deleterious biological activity attributed to cholesterol oxides and also by the technological aspects involved in mayonnaise manufacture.
cholesterol; cholesterol oxides; 7-ketocholesterol; 25-hidroxycholesterol; mayonnaise
