Targeting specific nutrient deficiencies in proteinrestricted diets: some practical facts in PKU dietary management

Among aminoacidopathies, phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most prevalent one. Early diagnosis in the neonatal period with a prompt nutritional therapy (low natural-protein and phenylalanine diet, supplemented with phenylalanine-free amino acid mixtures and special low-protein foods) remains the mainstay of the treatment. Data considering nutrient contents of cooked dishes is lacking. In this study, fourteen dishes specifically prepared for PKU individuals were analysed, regarding the lipid profile and iron and zinc contents. These dishes are poor sources of essential nutrients like Fe, Zn or n-3 fatty acids, reinforcing the need for adequate supplementation to cover individual patients’ needs. This study can contribute to a more accurate adjustment of PKU diets and supplementation in order to prevent eventual nutritional deficiencies. This study contributes to a better understanding of nutrient intake from PKU patients’ meals, showing the need for dietary supplementation.

Valorisation of fish-cannery by-products targeting the recovery of ω3 lipids

Over the past years, ω3 fatty acids, namely EPA and DHA, have been recognized as presenting multiple health benefits. Several studies consider fish oil as the most important source of EPA and DHA. Nowadays, canned fish industry plays a very important role in Portuguese economy. However, expansion of this business brought some environmental concerns due to the high amount of by-products generated. Nevertheless, this problem can be substantially reduced by the recovery of some of the by-product components, diminishing its contamination load and simultaneously obtaining value-added products. This study was born from the growing interest in obtaining new sources of lipids rich in ω3 fatty acids, combined with environmental concerns related to the production of wastes from the fish canning industries, rich in these compounds. It thus intends to evaluate lipid extraction methods in liquid by-products from the fish canning industry, aiming to obtain fractions rich in ω3 fatty acids. Additionally, in a biorefining concept, the protein content of the remaining aqueous fractions was also quantified.