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Effect of Agro-Environmental Factors on the Mineral Content of Olive Oils: Categorization of the Three Major Portuguese Cultivars

  • Original Paper
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Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society

Abstract

The nutritional properties and safety of olive oil are strongly dependent on the content of mineral nutrients and trace elements. Hence, this work assesses the content for quality and toxic metals of olive oils from three major Portuguese cultivars (‘Galega’, ‘Cobrançosa’ and ‘Picual’) obtained from olives in different ripening stages. This evaluation was achieved by flame atomic spectrometry and atomic absorption in a graphite furnace, depending on the metal to be analysed. The results showed mean concentrations of the mineral nutrients Ca and Mg of 20.00 µg g−1, and K and Na of 40.00 and 170.00 µg g−1, respectively, while the trace elements Fe, Co, Cu, Mn, Zn and Ni had mean values of 0.53, ≤ 0.01, 0.33, 0.10, 1.09 and 0.64 µg g−1, respectively. The mean content of the toxic metals Al, Cd, Pb and As were 27.46, 0.03, 0.09 and 0.36 µg g−1, respectively, which were according to the values proposed by European regulations. The evaluation of the data obtained by partial least square regression allowed the identification of the minerals with the strongest potential to discriminate between the season (Na, Cu, Zn and Ni) and the cultivar employed in the olive oil performance (Fe and Mn).

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Project PhD grant SFRH/BD/78013/2011 from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia to IG. This work was also supported by the Project INNOFOOD–INNOvation in the FOOD sector through the valorization of food and agro-food by-products—NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-0000029, financed by the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (ON.2–O Novo Norte) under the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), through FEDER, as well as by PIDDAC through FCT/MEC and by the project PEst-OE/AGR/UI4033. RDP was supported by a Postdoctoral contract from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the framework of the National Scientific and Technologic System. N.F.L. Machado kindly acknowledges a post-doctoral research grant from the Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, with the reference BI/CITAB/UTAD/QUI/2015.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (CITAB-UTAD), 5001-801, Vila Real, Portugal

    Irene Gouvinhas, Raúl Domínguez-Perles, Nelson Machado & Ana I. R. N. A. Barros

  2. National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV), Elvas, Portugal

    Teresa Carvalho

  3. Chemistry Department, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal

    Carlos Matos

Authors
  1. Irene Gouvinhas
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  2. Raúl Domínguez-Perles
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  3. Nelson Machado
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  4. Teresa Carvalho
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  5. Carlos Matos
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  6. Ana I. R. N. A. Barros
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Correspondence to Irene Gouvinhas.

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Gouvinhas, I., Domínguez-Perles, R., Machado, N. et al. Effect of Agro-Environmental Factors on the Mineral Content of Olive Oils: Categorization of the Three Major Portuguese Cultivars. J Am Oil Chem Soc 93, 813–822 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-016-2827-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-016-2827-4

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