title: Fat profile of jamaican ackees, oleic Acid content and possible health implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To re-investigate the composition of ackee oil and unequivocally determine its principal fatty acid components.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oil was extracted from the edible portion of ackees harvested in three different studies (I-III) by several analysts; studies I and II utilized composite samples from several trees while study III consisted of ackees from seven separate trees. The oils were either saponified and methylated or trans-methylated and the fatty acid methyl ester content analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Relative fatty acid composition was quantified based on chromatographic peak areas while fatty acids were identified by mass spectrometry. The degree of unsaturation of the ackee oils was characterized by determination of the iodine value.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data from the three studies were assessed. Relative fatty acid composition for the ackee oils was consistent across the three studies. The major fatty acid components were oleic acid (55.44%), palmitic acid (25.57%) and stearic acid (12.59%); linoleic acid was present in minor to undetectable amounts. An iodine value of 49 was determined which is consistent with the high oleic acid content of the ackee oil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ackee samples analysed were rich in the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) oleic acid. Consideration should be given to potential protective health effects of diets which include ackee.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goldson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bremmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica. donna.minott@uwimona.edu.jm.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Minott