Improving the oxidative stability and lengthening the shelf life of DHA algae oil with composite antioxidants

Based on various antioxidant mechanisms, four kinds of antioxidants including ascorbyl palmitate (AP), vitamin E (VE), phytic acid (PA) and one of the polyphenols (antioxidant of bamboo leaves, tea polyphenol palmitate or tea polyphenols (TP)) were used in combination to improve oxidative stability of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) algae oil. To achieve the best effect, the formulations and mixture ratios of the antioxidant combinations were optimized. The effects were monitored by peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, acid value, free radicals, Rancimat induction time and fatty acid composition of DHA algae oil undergoing accelerated storage. Finally, the DHA algae oil containing 80 mg/kg AP, 80 mg/kg VE, 40 mg/kg PA and 80 mg/kg TP had the highest oxidative stability. Furthermore, the shelf life of DHA algae oil containing the optimum composite antioxidant was predicted by using accelerated shelf life testing coupled with Arrhenius model, which was 3.80-fold longer than the control sample.