EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND STORAGE TIME OF WHEAT GERM ON THE OIL TOCOPHEROL CONCENTRATION

Wheat germ represents approximately 3% of the grain and it contains 8-14% oil, which is a rich source of tocopherols (vitamin E) and polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid. The present work shows the influence of temperature (27 C and 45 C) and storage time (maximum 35 days) of the wheat germ on the concentration of tocopherol in the oil. Their effect on other quality parameters was also investigated. Results indicated that oil oxidation and free fatty acid formation increased markedly with temperature and storage time. The initial sample contained 3134 mu g/g total tocopherol, of which 67% was alpha-tocopherol and, in a lower proportions, beta-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol (30.5% and 2.4%, respectively). In the temperature range studied, tocopherols decreased as a function of storage time following first-order kinetics. The rate constant k for beta-tocopherol increased with temperature. The fatty acid composition was not affected by the storage conditions applied.