Nutritional composition of ghee of various animal origins produced in some silk road countries

• Published in: Journal of food composition and analysis Vol. 132; p. 106251
• Main Authors: Ulambayar, Nomin-Erdene, Smanalieva, Jamila, Hellwig, Anne, Iskakova, Janyl, Choijilsuren, Narangerel, Kalemshariv, Begzhan, Vankhuu, Enkhtuya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Calcium; Fatty acid content; Ghee; Nutritional value; Phosphorus; Potassium; Vitamin E; β-carotene; Ghee; Nutritional value; Calcium; Vitamin E; β-carotene; Phosphorus; Fatty acid content; Potassium
• ISSN: 0889-1575; 1096-0481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106251

This study aimed to investigate the fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals of ghee from various animal milk from different countries, such as India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Turkey. Ghee consists of 98.9% of fat, irrespective of the animal source. Among the short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids, all samples contain butyric (C4:0), caproic (C6:0), caprylic (C8:0), and capric acid (C10:0). Mare and goat ghee additionally contain undecanoic acid (C11:0). Major fatty acids were myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and monounsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (C18:1 cis 9). Notably, camel and mare ghee have the highest values of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Regarding minerals, the average levels were 5.48 mg/100 g for calcium, 5.04 mg/100 g for potassium, and 23.6 mg/100 g for phosphorus. Ghee also contains β-carotene at an average of 392 µg/100 g, vitamin A at 606 µg/100 g, and vitamin E at 1650 µg/100 g. The aforementioned results underscore the variation in the nutritional composition of ghee according to its geographical origin and source. •Ghee can provide 11% of the daily vitamin E intake and 100% of vitamin A.•Ghee contains butyric acid, a valuable short-chain fatty acid.•Among unsaturated fatty acids, oleic acid was dominant in all ghee samples.•Ghee can be considered a source of essential omega-3 α-linolenic acid.•Except for cow's ghee, all ghee contains an omega-6 fatty acid docosadienic acid.