Similar to the present study, Pietrowski, Tahergorabi, and Jaczynski
(2012) showed increased G0 of Alaska pollock surimi fortified
with x-3 oil. The unsaturated characteristics of x-3 PUFAs
may contribute to this effect as the long unsaturated FA chains
are more structurally flexible and interact more strongly with proteins
than saturated FAs (Wu et al., 2009). Yost and Kinsella (1992)
demonstrated that unsaturated FAs occupy the outer surface of oil
globules and associate with protein more than saturated FAs. The
oil globules were coated with protein aggregates and protein
strands projected from the globules linking them within the protein
gel matrix. Wu et al. (2009) observed a distinct membrane
of myofibrillar proteins surrounding oil globules, suggesting that
oil globules behave as interactive fillers. Dickinson and Chen
(1999) described interactive fillers as compounds interacting
strongly with protein and filling out the void spaces within the
gel matrix. The interactive fillers reinforce the gel matrix; and thus,
enhance gelation. They observed that oil globules strongly interacted
with protein in whey protein gels matrix via hydrophobic and physical interactions. Most likely in the present study, the long
x-3 PUFA chains of emulsified oil globules interacted with hydrophobic
groups of surimi myofibrillar proteins as they were transitioning
(i.e., denaturing) during cooking. This facilitated
immobilisation of the x-3 oil within the surimi protein gel matrix
and at the same time the oil globules filled out the void spaces
within the gel matrix. As a result, surimi gelation was enhanced.