Gilbert Ampem

Dr. Gilbert Ampem

Kingston University, London, City of London, UK
+2
orcid
Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

9Years (2018-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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19 November 2019 in Food & Function
Verified
Journal Article
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AGAdam Le Gresley
Adam Le Gresley
GAGilbert Ampem
Gilbert Ampem
MGMartin Grootveld
Martin Grootveld
BPBenita Percival
Benita Percival
DNDeclan P. Naughton
Declan P. Naughton
High-resolution NMR analysis has been used, for the first time, to identify, putatively, two new secondary aldehydic lipid oxidation products in culinary oils. The impact of heating and cooling times on the thermal stability, fatty acid composition and lipid oxidation product (LOP) concentrations have been analysed for continuous and discontinuous heating periods (180 °C). The susceptibility of the selected oils to thermal oxidation for the different heating episodes has been evaluated via the detection and determination of LOPs, particularly cytotoxic and genotoxic aldehydes. The identities and quantities of these LOPs evolved throughout a 2.0 hour period. Results acquired indicated that sunflower oil was more resistant to discontinuous oxidation than rapeseed and olive oils, however overall discontinuous heating resulted in more LOPs.

5 February 2021 in Frontiers in Nutrition
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Journal Article
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AGAdam Le Gresley
Adam Le Gresley
GAGilbert Ampem
Gilbert Ampem
SMSimon De Mars
Simon De Mars
MGMartin Grootveld
Martin Grootveld
DNDeclan P. Naughton
Declan P. Naughton
Differences in lipid oxidation products (LOPs) and trace metal concentrations of French fry samples found between two global chain fast-food restaurants in the UK were investigated using high-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analyses, respectively, of extracts derived therefrom. Over the course of 3 days and 3 different diurnal time periods, samples of French fries (FFs) were analyzed, and comparisons of two different oil extraction methods were undertaken for the two restaurants involved. The magnitude of concentrations of LOPs extracted from FFs is discussed. Significant differences between 6/7 aldehyde classifications, and aluminum, manganese, vanadium, lead, iron, copper and nickel levels between samples from the two restaurants are also reported. Redox-active transition and further trace metal concentrations inversely correlated with FF oil sample LOP contents; this suggested an antioxidant rather than a pro-oxidant role for them.

12 March 2020 in Nutrients
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BPBenita Percival
Benita Percival
AWAngela Wann
Angela Wann
RZRichard Zbasnik
Richard Zbasnik
VSVicki Schlegel
Vicki Schlegel
MEMark Edgar
Mark Edgar
Martin GrootveldMartin Grootveld
Martin Grootveld
High-resolution 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis was employed to molecularly screen the lipid, lipid oxidation product (LOP), and antioxidant compositions of four natural (unrefined) cod liver oil (CLO) products. Products 1–3 were non-fermented CLOs, whilst Product 4 was isolated from pre-fermented cod livers. Supporting analytical data that were acquired included biogenic amine, flavanone, tannin, phenolic antioxidant, α-tocopherol, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) determinations by recommended HPLC, LC/MS/MS, or spectrophotometric methods. SDS-PAGE, HPLC, and 1H NMR analyses investigated and determined collagenous antioxidants and their molecular mass ranges. 1H NMR analysis of aldehydic LOPs was employed to explore the susceptibilities/resistivities of each CLO product to peroxidation that is induced by thermal stressing episodes (TSEs) at 180°C, or following prolonged (42 day) storage episodes at 4 and 23 °C. Product 4 displayed extremely high ORAC values, which were much greater than those of Products 1–3, and that were predominantly ascribable to significant levels of peroxidation-blocking and/or aldehyde-consuming collagenous polypeptides/peptides and ammoniacal agents therein. Significantly lower levels of toxic aldehydes were generated in the pre-fermented Product 4 during exposure to TSEs, or the above long-term storage episodes. These results confirmed the enhanced peroxidative resistivity of a fermented, antioxidant-fortified natural CLO product over those of non-fermented unrefined products. Product 4: Green Pasture Blue Ice™ Fermented Cod Liver Oil.

24 June 2022 in Foods
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GAGilbert Ampem
Gilbert Ampem
AGAdam Le Gresley
Adam Le Gresley
Martin GrootveldMartin Grootveld
Martin Grootveld
DNDeclan Naughton
Declan Naughton
Scientific warnings on the deleterious health effects exerted by dietary lipid oxidation products (LOPs) present in thermally stressed culinary oils have, to date, not received adequate attention given that there has been an increase in the use and consumption of such oil products in everyday life. In this study, high-resolution 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis was used to characterize and map chemical modifications to fatty acid (FA) acyl groups and the evolution of LOPs in saturated fatty acid (SFA)-rich ghee, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)-rich groundnut, extra virgin olive, and macadamia oils, along with polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich sesame, corn and walnut oils, which were all thermally stressed at 180 °C, continuously and discontinuously for 300 and 480 min, respectively. Results acquired revealed that PUFA-rich culinary oils were more susceptible to thermo-oxidative stress than the others tested, as expected. However, ghee and macadamia oil both generated only low levels of toxic LOPs, and these results demonstrated a striking similarity. Furthermore, at the 120 min thermo-oxidation time-point, the discontinuous thermo-oxidation episodes produced higher concentrations of aldehydic LOPs than those produced during continuous thermo-oxidation sessions for the same duration. On completion of the thermo-oxidation period, a higher level of triacylglycerol chain degradation, and hence, higher concentrations of aldehydes, were registered in culinary oils thermally stressed continuously over those found in discontinuous thermo-oxidized oils. These findings may be crucial in setting targets and developing scientific methods for the suppression of LOPs in thermo-oxidized oils.

1 May 2022 in Food Chemistry
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
GAGilbert Ampem
Gilbert Ampem
AGAdam Le Gresley
Adam Le Gresley
MGMartin Grootveld
Martin Grootveld
SMSimon De Mars
Simon De Mars
DNDeclan P. Naughton
Declan P. Naughton
Suppressing toxic aldehydic lipid oxidation product (LOP) generation in culinary oils is now considered vital, since the deleterious effects arising from their ingestion are implicated in a wide range of disease conditions. Partial substitution involves the replenishment of thermally-stressed culinary oils with corresponding unheated ones. This technique was tested by employing 10%, 25%, 50%, and 75% (v/v) partial substitutions of coconut, olive, rapeseed, and sunflower oils at 180℃ for a 300 min continuous thermo-oxidation duration. Oil samples were analysed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. Trace metal levels, including oxidation-reduction (redox)-active metal ions credited with enhancing cooking oil oxidation were also analysed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). As expected, the degree of oil unsaturation, and the % partial substitutions significantly influenced their susceptibility to thermo-oxidation. In view of the very low polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) contents of coconut oil, both the class and concentrations of evolved LOPs were found to be least affected by this partial substitution process. Aldehydic LOPs were greatly suppressed in partially-substituted rapeseed oil. The % suppression activity of LOPs evaluated for the partially substituted oils were generally high making partial oil substitutions an effective chemical-free method in suppressing LOPs at both industrial and commercial levels. In general, the % partial oil substitutions were directly related to the dilution effect observed for LOPs quantified in the oils. Furthermore, trace metal ion concentrations measured in the culinary oils did not influence the evolution of LOPs in the oils.

3 May 2024 in Food Research International
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
GAGilbert Ampem
Gilbert Ampem
AGAdam Le Gresley
Adam Le Gresley
MGMartin Grootveld
Martin Grootveld
DNDeclan Patrick Naughton
Declan Patrick Naughton
Several scientific studies have warned that the ingestion of dietary lipid oxidation products (LOPs) may initiate or exacerbate the development of several chronic non-communicable diseases in humans. Indeed, the constantly increasing consumption of culinary oils by larger global populations indicates the need for scientific techniques to suppress the evolution of LOPs in thermo-oxidised oils. This study employed a 600.13 MHz frequency NMR spectrometer in evaluating the effect of 10, 50, and 100 ppm concentrations of chemical compounds reported to have antioxidant properties in continuously-stirred and thermally stressed polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich hemp seed oil at a frying temperature of 180℃ for 180 min. Research data acquired showed that the antioxidants α- and γ-tocopherol, γ-oryzanol, β-carotene, eugenol, resveratrol, ascorbyl palmitate, gentisic acid, and L-ascorbic acid all played a vital role in suppressing the evolution of secondary aldehydic lipid oxidation products in hemp seed oil. However, the most ineffective LOP-suppressing agent was L-lysine, an observation which may be accountable by its poor oil solubility. Nonetheless, trends deduced for compounds acting as antioxidants were mainly unique for each class of agent tested. Conversely, the antioxidant capacity of resveratrol was consistently higher, and this effect was found to be independent of its added amounts. This report provides a direct approach in developing scientific methods for the suppression of LOPs in thermo-oxidatively susceptible PUFA-rich cooking oils.