Bisulfite induced lipid oxidation

Bisulfite (0.5 to 10 millimolar) initiates oxidation of lipids in aqueous emulsions of corn oil in a dose-dependent manner as measured by reaction with thiobarbituric acid. The reaction is effectively quenched by the antioxidant, 2,6-dit-butyl-4-hydroxymethyl phenol as well as by Mn+2 (10(-5)-10(-3)M). The latter observation is in disagreement with that reported by others and suggests that in case of lipids an alternative mechanism exists for the initiation of reactive species.