Antioxidants Activities and Heavy Metal Profil in Vegetable Oils in Yaounde

The main aim of this study was to determine the quality of vegetable oils consumed by the population in Yaoundé.

The study was carried out on 14 vegetable oils sampled following a survey. The antioxidant potentials of these oils were analyzed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, FRAP total antioxidant capacity. The concentrations of some heavy metals (Pb, Cu, and Fe) were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry after acid digestion. The acid and peroxide values were assessed using methods described by the Cameroonian standard on vegetable oils.

The sample included 8 brands of which, 5 of refined palm oil, 4 of soybean oil, 1 brand of cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, and cold extracted olive oil, red palm oil bleached palm oil each. The antioxidant activity showed a good correlation, with red palm oil having the greatest antioxidant potential and bleached palm oil having the least antioxidant potential. The Pb, Cu, and Fe contents had the following conformities: 71.4%, 100% respectively. For the acid and peroxide values, we found 50% and 21.4%, respectively. Six of the fourteen (42.9%) analyzed oils contained less than 33 IU/g vitamin A.

These results highlight the poor quality of the oils consumed in Yaoundé.