A novel method for the quantification of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in gummy dietary supplements

Determination of Free Glycidol and Total Free Monochloropropanediol in Fish and Krill Oil with Simple Aqueous Derivatization and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

This study introduces a novel method for detecting free glycidol and total free monochloropropanediol (MCPD) in fish and krill oil. Before analysis on high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), p-(dimethylamino)phenol was used for derivatization of these compounds, enabling the sensitive determination of these contaminants. The sample preparation procedure includes a simple, efficient pretreatment using NaCl aqueous solution extraction and C18 sorbent cleanup (for demulsification), distinguishing glycidol from MCPD under varied reaction conditions for derivatization (weak acidic and strong alkaline aqueous environments). This approach shows broad linearity from 1 to at least 256 ng·mL-1, improved sensitivity compared to standard GC-MS methods, with the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for MCPD and glycidol in both oil samples verified at 0.5 ng·mL-1 and 1 ng·mL-1, respectively. Different from previous HPLC-MS methods for direct detection of glycidol esters or MCPD esters, this is the first HPLC-MS method used for the detection of free glycidol and total free MCPD in edible oil. Furthermore, this method can be potentially developed for glycidol or monochloropropane diol esters, which is similar to the current official methods adopted for indirect detection of these contaminants in different food matrices. Application of this detection method to real dietary supplements (fish oil and krill oil) revealed MCPD residues in fish oil (maximum detected: 32.78 ng·mL-1) and both MCPD (maximum detected: 2767.3 ng·mL-1) and glycidol (maximum detected: 22.2 ng·mL-1) in krill oil, emphasizing its effectiveness and accuracy for assessing contamination in these supplements.

Formulation of functional gummy candies containing natural antioxidants and stevia

The research aimed to enhance the nutritional value of gummy candies by incorporating pistachio green hull extract (PGHE), stevia, and starch into the formulations. The gummy candies formulations were optimized using PGHE (1-5 %), stevia (0.013-0.040 %) and gelatin-to-starch ratio (9:1, 2:8, and 3:7) by response surface methodology (RSM), central composite design (CCD), with six center points. The physicochemical and textural properties of the gummy candies were assessed. Three optimal formulations were determined, which were preferred by the majority of panelists. One of them was selected for testing total phenolic content (680.31 ± 0.6 mg GAE/100g gummy candy), antioxidant activity (IC50 = 277 μg/mL), FTIR analysis, morphology examination, and storage stability. This study resulted in the development of gummy candies that not only offer a reduced-sugar product (50 %; equal to 12 % of sucrose) with high antioxidant activity but also eliminate the need for artificial flavors and synthetic colorants in the formulation.

Development of Functional Candy with Banana, Ginger and Skim Milk Powder as a Source of Phenolics and Antioxidants

The present pandemic situation has increased the demand for plant-based functional foods that enhancing the immunity of all aged groups against COVID-19. This factor has led to innovation in confectionery market because healthy and good quality confectionery products are lacking. In this study, an attempt has been made to develop functional candy from various combinations of banana, ginger, skim milk powder, and honey at 2-10% and evaluated its sensory, nutraceutical, functional properties and microbial stability for 60 days. Among various combinations of banana and ginger pulp, candy prepared from 96:6 w/w (banana: ginger) ratio was found better than other combinations in respect to organoleptic and nutritional quality. Ginger and skim milk powder addition increased the contents of protein (4.54%), ash (2.82%), phenolic (8.59 mgGAE/g), flavonoid (2.43 mQ/g), and antioxidant activity (36.15% DPPH activity) of functional candy. Microbial studies of functional candy revealed it could be stored up to 60 days without microbial contamination and acceptable by the consumer. The cost of functional candy was Rs.1.53 per candy, which was less than market candy. This study showed that candy manufactured from banana, ginger, skim milk powder, and honey was nutritionally and economical improved with acceptable sensory properties. Developed functional candy increases the market's revenue and enables confectionary market to develop a new candy type.

The Importance of Reference Materials and Method Validation for Advancing Research on the Health Effects of Dietary Supplements and Other Natural Products

Insufficient assessment of the identity and chemical composition of complex natural products, including botanicals, herbal remedies, and dietary supplements, hinders reproducible research and limits understanding mechanism(s) of action and health outcomes, which in turn impede improvements in clinical practice and advances in public health. This review describes available analytical resources and good methodological practices that support natural product characterization and strengthen the knowledge gained for designing and interpreting safety and efficacy investigations. The practice of validating analytical methods demonstrates that measurements of constituents of interest are reproducible and appropriate for the sample (e.g., plant material, phytochemical extract, and biological specimen). In particular, the utilization of matrix-based reference materials enables researchers to assess the accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of analytical measurements of natural product constituents, including dietary ingredients and their metabolites. Select case studies are presented where the careful application of these resources and practices has enhanced experimental rigor and benefited research on dietary supplement health effects.

A survey of cannabinoids and toxic elements in hemp-derived products from the United States marketplace

The 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act removed hemp from Schedule I control, creating a market for hemp products, including cannabidiol-containing products. Due to the market's rapid growth, little is known about the presence and concentration of cannabinoids in commercial products. Herein, 11 cannabinoids were quantified using liquid chromatography with diode-array detection in a non-representative sampling of 147 products labeled as containing hemp or cannabidiol. A subset of 133 products were analyzed for toxic elements using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Cannabinoid content ranged from < LOD - 143 mg/serving, with a median of 16.7 mg/serving. Fewer than half of products surveyed contained cannabidiol concentrations within 20 % of their label declarations. The estimated exposure to lead was below the Interim Reference Level of 12.5 μg/day Pb for women of childbearing age, and most products presented concentrations of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol below LOQ. These findings emphasize the need for further testing and representative investigation of the cannabidiol marketplace.

Comparison of the Performance of Partial Least Squares and Support Vector Regressions for Predicting Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Classes in Marine Oil Dietary Supplements by Using Vibrational Spectroscopic Data

ABSTRACT

Simple, fast, and accurate analytical techniques for verifying the accuracy of label declarations for marine oil dietary supplements containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are required because of the increased consumption of these products. We recently developed broad-based partial least squares regression (PLS-R) models to quantify six fatty acids (FAs) and FA classes by using the spectroscopic data from a portable Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) device and a benchtop Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectrometer. We developed an improved quantification method for these FAs and FA classes by incorporating a nonlinear calibration approach based on the machine learning technique support vector machines. For the two spectroscopic methods, high accuracy in prediction was indicated by low root mean square error of prediction and by correlation coefficients (R2) close to 1, indicating excellent model performance. The percent accuracy of the support vector regression (SV-R) model predicted values for EPA and DHA in the reference material was 90 to 110%. In comparison to PLS-R, SV-R accuracy for prediction of FA and FA class concentrations was up to 2.4 times higher for both ATR-FTIR and FT-NIR spectroscopic data. The SV-R models also provided closer agreement with the certified and reference values for the prediction of EPA and DHA in the reference standard. Based on our findings, the SV-R methods had superior accuracy and predictive quality for predicting the FA concentrations in marine oil dietary supplements. The combination of SV-R with ATR-FTIR and/or FT-NIR spectroscopic data can potentially be applied for the rapid screening of marine oil products to verify the accuracy of label declarations.

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