Extension of AOAC Official Method 996.01 to the analysis of Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1846 and infant formulas.

There is currently no official method for the analysis of fatty acids (including trans fatty acids) in infant formulas. AOAC Official Method 996.01 for Fat Analysis in Cereal Products was extended to the analysis of milk-based infant formula Standard Reference Material (SRM)1846 to determine its applicability for use with infant formulas. Following the analysis of SRM 1846, 2 infant formulas, one milk-based liquid and one soy-based powdered infant formula, were analyzed for total fatty acid composition. Fatty acid methyl esters were prepared and analyzed by gas chromatography. The results of the analysis of SRM 1846 show that the mean analyzed values were highly reproducible as indicated by low coefficients of variation (CV). The CVs were <5% for the major fatty acids. Mean analyzed values for individual fatty acids in SRM 1846 were within +/- 1 standard deviation of the certificate values. The analyzed value for total fat as triglycerides (26.27 +/- 0.25%) agreed well with the certificate value (27.1 +/- 0.59%). Analyses of infant formulas showed that the concentrations of linoleic acid and fat meet the requirements for such formulas.     

Trans-esterification of fatty acids from microorganisms and human blood serum by trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) for GC analysis

Summary Trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) can convert fatty acids into the corresponding fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) in a single step. These fatty acids may also be bound in biomolecules such as phospholipids and/or glycerides. Complex mixtures of saturated and unsaturated FAMEs which may contain hydroxy and cylopropyl groups are obtained by trans-esterification; they can easily be separated in most cases by capillary GC. When FAMEs are generated from different microorganisms e.g. bacteria the patterns of the chromatograms are characteristic. Examples of characteristic patterns of bacteria with different cell wall structures are shown. The described method of transesterification can also be applied directly to blood serum without sophisticated sample pretreatment. The profiles of the chromatograms match well those described in the literature obtained by other methods of trans-esterification or sample preparation.     

Fast identification of mycobacterium species by GC analysis with trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) for transesterification

Trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) reproducibly converts fatty acids bound in, e.g., biomolecules such as phospholipids and/or glycerides, into the corresponding fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). The transesterification can be performed at room temperature in a fast single step reaction. Surprisingly, secondary alcohols and mycolic acid cleavage products (MACPs) are also released from mycobacteria under these conditions. The complex reaction mixtures containing FAMEs, MACPs, and secondary alcohols can easily be separated by high resolution temperature-programmed capillary GC. Different species of mycobacteria give rise to characteristic chromatographic patterns and the amount of lipids from a single colony of mycobacteria is sufficient for reliable identification of the bacteria. The profiles of the chromatograms match well those obtained from other sample preparation techniques. The TMSH method of identification of mycobacteria from the patterns of the gas chromatograms is faster and more sensitive than conventional methods, which also involve transesterification. The identification of mycobacterial species by microbiological culture techniques is difficult to perform and requires several weeks.     

非水反相高效液相色谱-气相色谱法分析苏子油甘油三酯的组成

苏子油是目前已知α－亚麻酸含量最高的植物物种。首次对苏子油甘油三酯主要组分的组成结构进行了研究。非水反相高效液相色谱和气相色谱的结合为油脂中甘油三酯的分离分析提供了一个简便准确的方法。     

HPLC-ELSD与GC-MS法测定牛乳甘油三酯sn-2位脂肪酸组成

研究建立了快速、准确测定牛乳脂肪甘油三酯sn-2位脂肪酸组成的方法．利用胰脂酶专一水解甘油三酯sn-1和sn-3位置上的脂肪酸得到sn-2单甘油酯和游离脂肪酸,再通过蒸发光散射高效液相色谱分离出sn-2位单甘油酯,然后对其进行衍生,用气相色谱质谱联用仪对sn-2脂肪酸组成进行分析．结果显示用蒸发光散射高效液相色谱法分离sn-2位单甘油酯时方法的回收率达到83．3％～85．1％,该法省去了传统测定中费时费力的薄层色谱分离步骤．用气相色谱质谱联用法对产物进行分析,精密度高,结果可靠．分析结果表明,牛乳脂肪sn-2位脂肪酸由2．57％月桂酸、7．68％豆蔻酸、34．74％棕榈酸、11．56％亚油酸、22．53％油酸和15．21％硬酯酸组成．     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of vitamin B6 in soy-based infant formula

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for determination of total vitamin B6 in soy-based infant formula. Total vitamin B6 is quantitated by using ion-pair LC after precolumn transformation of phosphorylated and free vitamers into pyridoxol. The limit of detection is 0.3 ng and the limit of quantitation is 1.0 ng on-column (injection volume = 100 microL). Linear response ranged from 39 to 616 ng/mL (r2 = 0.99986). Analysis of a soy-based infant formula control fortified at 6 different concentration levels gave recoveries that averaged 104%. Assay of SRM 1846 gave results within the certified range (8.6 +/- 0.086 mg/kg versus the certified value of 8.4 +/- 1.0 mg/kg). The method provides a rapid and specific assay for the analysis of total vitamin B6 in fortified soy-based infant formula.     

Gas chromatographic analysis of infant formulas for total fatty acids, including trans fatty acids

Twelve powdered and 13 liquid infant formulas were analyzed by using an extension of AOAC Official Method 996.01 for fat analysis in cereal products. Samples were hydrolyzed with 8 N HCl and extracted with ethyl and petroleum ethers. Fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by refluxing the mixed ether extracts with methanolic sodium hydroxide in the presence of 14% boron trifluoride in methanol. The extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography. In powdered formulas, saturated fatty acid (SFA) content (mean +/- SD; n = 12) was 41.05 +/- 3.94%, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content was 36.97 +/- 3.38%, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content was 20.07 +/- 3.08%, and total trans fatty acid content was 1.30 +/- 1.27%. In liquid formulas, SFA content (mean +/- SD; n = 13) was 42.29 +/- 2.98%, MUFA content was 36.05 +/- 2.47%, PUFA content was 20.65 +/- 2.40%, and total trans fatty acid content was 0.88 +/- 0.54%. Total fat content in powdered formulas ranged from 4.4 to 5.5 g/100 kcal and linoleic acid content ranged from 868 to 1166 mg/100 kcal. In liquid formulas, total fat content ranged from 4.1 to 5.1 g/100 kcal and linoleic acid content ranged from 820 to 1100 mg/100 kcal. There were no significant differences between powdered and liquid infant formulas in concentrations of total fat, SFA, MUFA, PUFA, or trans fatty acids.     

Fat content for nutritional labeling by supercritical fluid extraction and an on-line lipase catalyzed reaction

A method using sequential supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and enzymatic transesterification has been developed for the rapid determination of total nutritional fat content in meat samples. SFE conditions of 12.16 MPa and 50°C were utilized to extract lipid species from the sample matrix. The enzymatic transesterification of the lipids by methanol was catalyzed by an immobilized lipase isolated from Candida antarctica. Conversion of the triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters was monitored by supercritical fluid chromatography, while the fatty acid content of the extract was determined by capillary gas chromatography (GC). Total fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat contents were calculated from the GC data and compared to values from traditional extraction and lipid determination methods. Both off-line SFE and automated SFE followed by on-line GC analysis using two different instruments were utilized in this study. The enzymatic-based SFE method gave comparable results to the organic solvent extraction-based method followed by conventional BF₃-catalyzed esterification.     

Determination of total fat in milk- and soy-based infant formula powder by supercritical fluid extraction

Commercially available simple benchtop systems using CO2 supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) eliminate expensive organic solvent disposal problems and offer potential to meet a demand for rapid, accurate high-volume gravimetric determinations of total fat content of infant formula powders. A Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) approach was used to evaluate the performance characteristics of instrumental SFE extraction for determination of total gravimetric fat in infant formula. The established DQOs included the following: ACCURACY: Correct values were obtained for a suitable reference material, SRM 1846 Infant Formula [National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD]. RUGGEDNESS: Variables were defined as (1) extraction time (35 min optimum); (2) ratio of sample size to diatomaceous earth support material (1 g sample/2 g support); (3) ratio of distilled water to alcohol (50% isopropanol optimum for both milk- and soy-based infant formula samples); (4) extraction flow rate was 3-3.5 mL/min optimum. PRECISION: Relative standard deviations of multiple determinations fell within the Horwitz limits of acceptability of < or = 2.8% at the level of analyte determined (0.34-2.5% obtained). SCOPE OF APPLICABILITY: Includes milk- and soy-based infant formula powders. Research data were obtained by use of a commercially available fat analyzer. Samples of the SRM, 2 commercial milk-based and 3 commercial soy-based infant formula products were distributed to 2 additional collaborating laboratories. Very good agreement was obtained among the submitting and collaborating laboratories for these samples. The use of clearly defined DQOs to establish method performance characteristics, along with the commercially available reference material, provided the mechanism for verification and validation of analytical methodology.     

Direct analysis of fatty acid profile from milk by thermochemolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The fatty acid composition of milk is of considerable interest due to their nutritional and functional properties. Although rapid milk fat separation and transesterification procedures have been developed, the overall procedure remains time consuming, specially, for the analysis of a large number of samples. In this work, a fast and simple method for direct profiling of fatty acids from milk using thermochemolysis has been developed. This method has the capability of directly analyse fatty acids from one drop of milk without fat extraction or cleanup. Our approach for thermochemolysis is based on thermal desorption integrated with a cold trap inlet. The optimized method does not present isomerisation/degradation of polyunsaturated fatty acid and shows milk fatty acid profiles comparable to the conventional method based on fat extraction and alkaline transesterification. Overall, this method has demonstrated significant potential for high throughput analysis of fatty acids in milk.     

Preparation and characterization of standard reference material 1849 infant/adult nutritional formula

Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1849 Infant/Adult Nutritional Formula has been issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a replacement for SRM 1846 Infant Formula, issued in 1996. Extraction characteristics of SRM 1846 have changed over time, as have NIST's analytical capabilities. While certified mass fraction values were provided for five constituents in SRM 1846 (four vitamins plus iodine), certified mass fraction values for 43 constituents are provided in SRM 1849 (fatty acids, elements, and vitamins) and reference mass fraction values are provided for an additional 43 constituents including amino acids and nucleotides, making it the most extensively characterized food-matrix SRM available from NIST.     

5种贝类脂肪含量及脂肪酸组成研究

 用氯仿 甲醇法测定了广州海鲜市场上棕带仙女蛤、波纹巴非蛤、文蛤、栉孔扇贝和园华扇贝等 5种贝类的脂肪含量 ,并用GC MS法测定了它们的脂肪酸组成。 5种贝类鉴定出的脂肪酸都在 99% (质量分数 )以上。它们的脂肪含量都大于 1% (质量分数 ) ,园华扇贝的脂肪含量最高。它们的ω 3多不饱和脂肪酸与ω 6多不饱和脂肪酸含量的比值基本上都大于 2。两种扇贝的廿碳五烯酸 (EPA)和廿二碳六烯酸 (DHA)含量都比较高。分析结果表明 ,园华扇贝不仅脂肪含量高 ,而且EPA与DHA的含量也比较高 ,是EPA和DHA理想的提取原料     

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of oils and oil binders in paintings

A GC/MS procedure has been developed, optimized, and applied to characterization of oil binders in paintings. The procedure involves hydrolysis of lipids to fatty acids (FAs) and derivatization of FAs to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by a solution of sodium methanolate in methanol at an elevated temperature. FAMEs are analyzed by temperature-programed GC followed by full-scan MS. Old and dried samples are subjected to extraction of nonpolymerized FAMEs into dichloromethane prior to hydrolysis. The method provides a good repeatability of results and has been applied to the characterization of common plant oils used in paintings, to commercial oil and tempera paints, to model painting samples, and to samples taken from real paintings. The fresh oils and binders can readily be identified and characterized. The ratio of the methyl esters of palmitic and stearic acids can be used to characterize oil binders in old works of art.     

Fatty acid composition of human erythrocyte membranes by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Capillary gas chromatographic and gas chromatographic--mass spectrometric methods were employed for profiling total fatty acid content of human erythrocyte membranes. The protocol was designed to efficiently separate, identify, and accurately quantify the fatty acid composition in human erythrocyte membranes. Washed erythrocyte "ghosts" were saponified in aqueous methanolic sodium hydroxide solution and methylated with boron trichloride and acid catalysis. Extracted total fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were analyzed using a highly polar cyanopropylsiloxane SP 2560 fused-silica capillary column. Total run time was 55 min, and 45 FAMEs were tentatively identified by relative retention times compared to those of known FAMEs. Confirmation of identities by mass spectral structure elucidation revealed saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated, and branched-chain FAMEs. The presence of four fatty aldehydes was also confirmed as dimethyl acetal derivatives. Identification of cis/trans isomers was based on relative retention times and characteristic profile of the cis/trans FAME standard. Quantification of FAMEs for normal subjects showed some variation in relative amounts, consistent with expectations based on literature reports on total or phospholipid FAMEs from human erythrocytes. Separation of individual components of fatty acid families (n-3), (n-6), and (n-9) is demonstrated. Losses in relative amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids upon storing samples were also detectable by this rapid method.     

Chemotaxonomy of bacteria by comprehensive GC and GC-MS in electron impact and chemical ionisation mode

The analysis of the cellular lipidic fraction of bacteria is described. After hydrolysis and methylation, the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) are determined by 1-D GC using the Sherlock MIDI bacteria identification system, by comprehensive GC (GC x GC) and by GC-MS in electron impact (EI) and positive chemical ionisation (PCI) mode. With GC x GC, the enhanced selectivity and group type separation provides a more complete elucidation of the fatty acids in microorganisms. GC-EI-MS and GC-PCI-MS were helpful for confirmation. The bacteria selected in this study are Brevundimonas diminuta, Chryseobacterium gleum and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.     

Identification of chlorinated fatty acids in fish by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with negative ion chemical ionization of pentafluorobenzyl esters

This paper reports the development of a technique for identifying and confirming chlorinated fatty acids previously detected in fish by gas chromatography (GC) with halogen-specific detection (XSD). Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) including chlorinated FAMEs within fractions of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of transesterified fish extracts were derivatized to pentafluorobenzyl esters, which were subjected to GC/mass spectrometry (MS) with negative ion chemical ionization (NICI). Pentafluorobenzyl esters displayed reasonably good GC characteristics, a very high ionization efficiency and a low degree of fragmentation. Chloride ion chromatograms extracted at m/z 35 and 37 from full scans were utilized for locating traces of chlorinated unknowns in the GC elution profile so that their mass spectra could be readily displayed. Significant ions displayed in the mass spectrum scanned in a narrow range of retention time where a chlorinated unknown was located were evaluated using ion chromatograms extracted at the m/z of these ions. The chromatographic peaks of those ions derived from the analyte were expected to center at that specific retention time, whereas those originating from matrix compounds were not. The isotopic patterns of chlorinated ions were also examined against their theoretical relative abundances. Using this approach, three metabolism-related dichloro fatty acids previously identified by GC/XSD in filet extracts of white sucker sampled downstream from a bleached kraft pulp mill were confirmed: dichlorooctadecanoic, dichlorohexadecanoic and dichlorotetradecanoic acids. In addition, an isomer of dichlorotetradecanoic acid was found in a reference fish sample. As sample preparation is critical in this application, improved conditions for hydrolysis and pentafluorobenzyl esterification are also discussed.     

Recent SRMs for organic and inorganic nutrients in food matrices

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has recently introduced several reference materials for organic and inorganic nutrients in food matrices to assist the food industry in complying with nutrition labeling laws; the food industry and other government agencies have collaborated with NIST in this endeavor. Two food-matrix SRMs were issued in 1996: SRM 1544, Fatty Acids and Cholesterol in Frozen Food Composite; and SRM 1846, Infant Formula. Concentration values in SRM 1544 are provided for six fatty acids, cholesterol, and proximates (fat, protein, carbohydrate, etc.). Values are assigned for proximate and caloric content as well as the concentrations of sixteen vitamins and nine minerals and trace elements in SRM 1846. In 1997, NIST expects to issue two additional food-matrix SRMs: SRM 1548a, Typical Diet, and SRM 2383, Baby Food Composite. SRM 1548a will replace SRM 1548, Total Diet, and will have values assigned for proximates, major and minor inorganic nutrients, and toxic trace elements. SRM 2383 will have values assigned for proximates, vitamins, carotenoids, and inorganic nutrients.     

Recent developments in food-matrix Reference Materials at NIST

Since 1996, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed several food-matrix Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) characterized for nutrient concentrations. These include SRM 1544 Fatty Acids and Cholesterol in a Frozen Diet Composite, SRM 1546 Meat Homogenate, SRM 1548a Typical Diet, SRM 1566b Oyster Tissue, SRM 1846 Infant Formula, and SRM 2383 Baby Food Composite. Three additional materials--SRM 1946 Lake Superior Fish Tissue, SRM 2384 Baking Chocolate, and SRM 2385 Spinach--are in preparation. NIST also recently assigned values for proximate (fat, protein, etc.), individual fatty acid, and total dietary fiber concentrations in a number of existing SRMs and reference materials (RMs) that previously had values assigned for their elemental composition. NIST has used several modes for assignment of analyte concentrations in the food-matrix RMs, including the use of data provided by collaborating laboratories, alone and in combination with NIST data. The use of data provided by collaborating food industry and contract laboratories for the analysis of food-matrix RMs has enabled NIST to provide assigned values for many analytes that NIST does not have the resources or analytical expertise to measure.     

Accurate and reliable quantification of total microalgal fuel potential as fatty acid methyl esters by <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> transesterification

In the context of algal biofuels, lipids, or better aliphatic chains of the fatty acids, are perhaps the most important constituents of algal biomass. Accurate quantification of lipids and their respective fuel yield is crucial for comparison of algal strains and growth conditions and for process monitoring. As an alternative to traditional solvent-based lipid extraction procedures, we have developed a robust whole-biomass in situ transesterification procedure for quantification of algal lipids (as fatty acid methyl esters, FAMEs) that (a) can be carried out on a small scale (using 4–7 mg of biomass), (b) is applicable to a range of different species, (c) consists of a single-step reaction, (d) is robust over a range of different temperature and time combinations, and (e) tolerant to at least 50% water in the biomass. Unlike gravimetric lipid quantification, which can over- or underestimate the lipid content, whole biomass transesterification reflects the true potential fuel yield of algal biomass. We report here on the comparison of the yield of FAMEs by using different catalysts and catalyst combinations, with the acid catalyst HCl providing a consistently high level of conversion of fatty acids with a precision of 1.9% relative standard deviation. We investigate the influence of reaction time, temperature, and biomass water content on the measured FAME content and profile for 4 different samples of algae (replete and deplete Chlorella vulgaris, replete Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and replete Nannochloropsis sp.). We conclude by demonstrating a full mass balance closure of all fatty acids around a traditional lipid extraction process.     

Development and application of an analytical method for the determination of storage lipids, fatty acids and fatty alcohols in Calanus finmarchicus

A method was developed for the determination of the major storage lipids, wax ester and triglycerides, in the copepod Calanus finmarchicus. A variation of the Folch method was used to extract the lipid. The method was scaled down to enable the extraction of either pooled (-1 mg) or individual (approximately 200 microg) copepods. The major lipid classes were identified using TLC and quantified using HPLC coupled with evaporative light scattering detection. Analysis of laboratory reference materials indicated that this method underestimated the minor triglyceride component, but gave a good estimate of the major wax ester component. The fatty acid and fatty alcohol composition of the C. finmarchicus were determined following trans-esterification of the lipid extract in methanol. Fatty acids and fatty alcohols were initially identified by comparison with authentic standard and by mass spectroscopy. Using GC with flame ionisation detection the normalised area percentage of the fatty alcohols and fatty acid methyl esters was determined simultaneously in one run for either pooled or individual copepod samples. These methods were applied to C. finmarchicus collected from the Irminger Sea, North Atlantic in 2001 and 2002.