No. 4 on the “fab 5” Lipids list "Evaluating acid and base catalysts in the methylation of milk and rumen fatty acids with a special emphasis on conjugated dienes and total trans fatty acids"

The “fab 5” countdown continues as we look at the fourth paper on the list of pivotal original papers representing the broad areas of research featured in the first 49 volumes of the AOCS journal Lipids. All five articles, which were chosen by Editor-in-Chief Eric J. Murphy in celebration of the journal’s 50th volume, are available for free download at http://link.springer.com/journal/11745.

This month’s featured paper, from 1997, is titled “Evaluating acid and base catalysts in the methylation of milk and rumen fatty acids with a special emphasis on conjugated dienes and total trans fatty acids.” The fact that the article has been cited more than 500 times points to the importance of milkfat analysis in general and an increased interest in the health benefits of conjugated linoleic acid. In a collaboration among researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration, authors John K.G. Kramer, Vivek Fellner, Michael E.R. Dugan, Frank D. Sauer, Magdi M. Mossoba, and Martin P. Yurawecz concluded that “no single method or combination of methods could adequately prepare [fatty acid methyl esters] from all lipid classes in milk or rumen lipids, and not affect the conjugated dienes.”
   
To find out which method constituted the best compromise, download the full article or view it online.