In food systems, lipid oxidation can cause oxidation of other molecules. This research for the first time
investigated oxidative degradation of b-glucan induced by lipid oxidation using an oil-in-water emulsion
system which simulated a multi-phased aqueous food system containing oil and b-glucan. Lipid oxidation
was monitored using peroxide value and hexanal production while b-glucan degradation was evaluated
by viscosity and molecular weight measurements. The study showed that while lipid oxidation
proceeded, b-glucan degradation occurred. Emulsions containing b-glucan, oil and ferrous ion showed
significant viscosity and molecular weight decrease after 1 week of oxidation at room temperature.
Elevated temperature (40 C) enhanced the oxidation reactions causing higher viscosity drop. In addition,
the presence of b-glucan appeared to retard the hexanal production in lipid oxidation. The study revealed
that lipid oxidation may induce the degradation of b-glucan in aqueous food systems where b-glucan and
lipids co-exist