Recent Techniques in Nutrient Analysis for Food Composition Database

Integrating Vision-Language Models for Accelerated High-Throughput Nutrition Screening

Addressing the critical need for swift and precise nutritional profiling in healthcare and in food industry, this study pioneers the integration of vision-language models (VLMs) with chemical analysis techniques. A cutting-edge VLM is unveiled, utilizing the expansive UMDFood-90k database, to significantly improve the speed and accuracy of nutrient estimation processes. Demonstrating a macro-AUCROC of 0.921 for lipid quantification, the model exhibits less than 10% variance compared to traditional chemical analyses for over 82% of the analyzed food items. This innovative approach not only accelerates nutritional screening by 36.9% when tested amongst students but also sets a new benchmark in the precision of nutritional data compilation. This research marks a substantial leap forward in food science, employing a blend of advanced computational models and chemical validation to offer a rapid, high-throughput solution for nutritional analysis.

Exploring oxylipins in processed foods: Understanding mechanisms, analytical perspectives, and enhancing quality with lipidomics

Oxylipins are active lipid compounds formed through the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. These compounds have drawn considerable attention due to the potential impact on human health and processed food quality. Therefore, this study aimed to deepen current understanding and assess recent analytical advancements regarding the physiological roles of oxylipins in processed food products using lipidomics. The mechanisms behind oxylipins production in processed foods were extensively investigated, underscoring potential associations with chronic diseases. This indicates the need for innovative strategies to mitigate harmful oxylipins levels to enhance the safety and shelf life of processed food products. The results showed that mitigation methods, including the use of antioxidants and optimization of processing parameters, reduced oxylipins levels. The integration of lipidomics with food safety and quality control processes is evident in cutting-edge methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry for compliance and real-time evaluation. Aside from envisioning the future trajectory of food science and industry through prospective studies on oxylipins and processed foods, the results also provide the basis for future investigations, innovation, and advancements in the dynamic field of food science and technology.

Development of an Indian Food Composition Database

An open-access and comprehensive nutrient database is not available in India. Our objective was to develop an open-access Indian Nutrient Databank (INDB). The development of the INDB consisted of 2 stages: creating a database of the nutrient composition data of individual food items (n = 1095) and a database of commonly consumed recipes (n = 1014). The stage 1 database was primarily derived from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition's Indian Food Composition Table (ICMR-NIN IFCT) from 2017, with gaps filled using the ICMR-NIN IFCT 2004 and nutrient databases from the United Kingdom and United States. The stage 2 database included information on the amounts of each ingredient used in each recipe, matched to a comparable item in the database from stage 1. This unique open-access resource can be used by researchers, the government, and the private and third sectors to derive nutrient intakes in India to better inform interventions and policies to address malnutrition.

Teaching the principles of least-cost poultry feed formulation utilizing the Solver function within a computer software workbook

A Microsoft Excel workbook, User-Friendly Feed Formulation with Data from Australia (UffdAu.xlsm), has been developed for teaching feed formulation techniques to tertiary level, university students. It runs under both Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS operating systems. The example ingredient composition matrix is based on the Australian Feed Ingredient Database to illustrate the biological and econometric principles of least-cost feed formulation. The nutrient data are based roughly on recent primary breeder company recommendations. The workbook is easily adapted to appropriate ingredients, nutrients, and prices most relevant to the students, wherever it is used. The workbook uses the linear routines of Excel's Solver add-in under the Data heading in the header Ribbon. There is a worksheet illustrating how to adapt non-linear responses such as exogenous enzymes to typical linear models using a step function. Additional worksheets illustrate how proximate analysis can be interpreted in modern analytical chemistry terms and, how various feed energy measures are related to feed composition. UffdAu.xlsm is available free of charge from the Poultry Hub Australia website (https://www.poultryhub.org).

Application and prospect of metabolomics-related technologies in food inspection

BACKGROUND

Food inspection covers a broad range of topics, including nutrient analysis, food pollutants, food auxiliary materials, additives, and food sensory identification. The foundation of diverse subjects like food science, nutrition, health research, and the food industry, as well as the desired reference for drafting trade and food legislation, makes food inspection highly significant. Because of their high efficiency, sensitivity, and accuracy, instrumental analysis methods have gradually replaced conventional analytical methods as the primary means of food hygiene inspection.

SCOPE AND APPROACH

Metabolomics-based analysis technology, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS), has become a widely used analytics platform. This research provides a bird's eye view of the application and future of metabolomics-related technologies in food inspection.

KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

We have provided a summary of the features and the application range of various metabolomics techniques, the strengths and weaknesses of different metabolomics platforms, and their implementation in specific inspection procedures. These procedures encompass the identification of endogenous metabolites, the detection of exogenous toxins and food additives, analysis of metabolite alterations during processing and storage, as well as the recognition of food adulteration. Despite the widespread utilization and significant contributions of metabolomics-based food inspection technologies, numerous challenges persist as the food industry advances and technology continues to improve. Thus, we anticipate addressing these potential issues in the future.

Food frequency questionnaire for dietary assessment among adults at a risk of coronary heart disease: A mixed-methods study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To develop and psychometrically test a food frequency questionnaire for adults at risk of coronary heart disease (Cardio-FFQ).

BACKGROUND

Comprehensive dietary assessment is critical for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, but appropriate instruments to perform this work are lacking.

DESIGN

A sequential mixed-methods study followed the COREQ and STROBE guidelines.

METHODS

This study was conducted between April 2016 and November 2017. It started with dietary history interviews (Phase 1) to identify candidate food items of the Cardio-FFQ, which validity and reliability were assessed (Phase 2) through expert consultation and four seasonal measurements, including test and retest with a 2-week gap every season. Physical activity and blood glucose and lipids were assessed seasonally, while another FFQ was administered during the fourth measurement. Content analysis was used to analyse verbatim interview transcripts, while descriptive and inferential analyses were used to simplify the Cardio-FFQ and examine its psychometric properties.

RESULTS

Phase I involved 34 participants during their first onset of acute coronary syndrome and generated 176 candidate food items (consumed by at least three participants) under 12 food categories. These food items were simplified to form the 133-item Cardio-FFQ after discarding items with trivial contributions to food commonalities or between-person variance. Further analysis showed that the simplified questionnaire had satisfactory content validity, concurrent validity, convergent validity, predictive validity, known-group validity and test-retest reliability.

CONCLUSION

The 133-item Cardio-FFQ is a valid and reliable tool for a comprehensive dietary assessment appropriate for adults at risk of coronary heart disease.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nurses may use the Cardio-FFQ to conduct a dietary assessment to better support people to commit to healthy diets, aiming to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Quantification of lactoferrin in human milk using monolithic cation exchange HPLC

Human lactoferrin (hLF) is one of the most important whey proteins in human milk, known for its ability to modulate innate host immunity and multifunctional activities for neonatal growth. The objective of this study was to validate an efficient method for the detection and quantification of hLF using a unique technology of cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on CIM® monolithic columns. Human milk samples were collected using manual expression or a breast pump, at different weeks of lactation. After sample preparation, hLF was detected and measured by HPLC method and further confirmed by SDS-PAGE. Selected fractions were analysed also by LC-MS/MS. Presumably, due to the high density of positive charge on the surface of the N-terminal domain, hLF binds strongly to the column and elutes last, enabling the high specificity of this method. The LC-MS/MS analysis indicated that hLF eluted in two clearly separated peaks, presumably representing two different molecular species of hLF. hLF concentration in the human milk samples ranged from 2.03 mg/mL to 5.79 mg/mL and was not significantly affected by the sample collection method whereas it was negatively correlated with the stage of lactation. These results suggest that cation exchange chromatography is an accurate, efficient, and robust method for the detection and quantification of hLF.

An overview of nutritional profiling in foods: Bioanalytical techniques and useful protocols

Maintaining a nutritious diet is essential for humans if they want to live a healthier life. Several food businesses and food safety organizations play a significant role and offer useful ways for improving nutritional quality that assists consumers in making informed selections. Making poor food choices and consuming unhealthy meals are the main causes of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Nutritional profiling (NP) models are developed to evaluate the nutritional value, calorie content, and the amount of micronutrients and macronutrients contained in a given food accompanied by additional details on the nutritional anomaly provided by published standard nutrients and nutritional databases. To construct an ideal nutritional model that can facilitate food consumption, bioanalytical methods such as chromatography, microscopic techniques, molecular assays, and metabolomics can be applied. With the use of these technologies, one can learn more about the health advantages of nutrition and how to prevent disease. A wider element of NP is also provided by the developing technologies in the area of nutrition research, such as nanotechnology, proteomics, and microarray technology. In this review, we are focusing on the different bioanalytical techniques and the various protocols of NP and their application and refinement of the models. We have evaluated various NP techniques currently used in the food industry for the detection of different components present in food items.

Evaluation of the New Individual Fatty Acid Dataset for UK Biobank: Analysis of Intakes and Sources in 207,997 Participants

The Oxford WebQ is an online 24 h dietary assessment tool used by several large prospective studies. This study describes the creation of the new individual fatty acid (FA) dataset for the Oxford WebQ and reports intakes and sources of dietary individual FAs in the UK Biobank. Participants who completed ≥1 (maximum of five) 24 h dietary assessments were included (n = 207,997). Nutrient intakes were obtained from the average of all completed 24 h dietary assessments. Nutrient data from the UK McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods and the US Department of Agriculture food composition tables were used to calculate intakes of 21 individual FAs. The individual FA dataset included 10 saturated fatty acids (SFAs), 4 monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and 7 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs; including alpha-linolenic (18:3), eicosapentaenoic (20:5), and docosahexaenoic (22:6) acids). Palmitic (16:0; mean ± standard deviation (SD): 13.5 ± 5.7 g/d) and stearic (18:0; 5.2 ± 2.5) acids were the main contributors to SFAs, and the main sources of these were cereals and cereal products (mostly desserts/cakes/pastries), milk and milk products (mostly cheese and milk), and meat and meat products. Oleic acid (18:1; 24.2 ± 9.8) was the main MUFA, derived mainly from cereals and cereal products, and meat and meat products. Linoleic acid (18:2; 9.7 ± 4.3) was the main PUFA, derived mostly from cereals and cereal products, and vegetables (including potatoes) and vegetable dishes. The individual FA dataset for the Oxford WebQ will allow future investigations on individual FAs and disease risk.

Recent Progress in Electronic Noses for Fermented Foods and Beverages Applications

Fermented foods and beverages have become a part of daily diets in several societies around the world. Emitted volatile organic compounds play an important role in the determination of the chemical composition and other information of fermented foods and beverages. Electronic nose (E-nose) technologies enable non-destructive measurement and fast analysis, have low operating costs and simplicity, and have been employed for this purpose over the past decades. In this work, a comprehensive review of the recent progress in E-noses is presented according to the end products of the main fermentation types, including alcohol fermentation, lactic acid fermentation, acetic acid fermentation and alkaline fermentation. The benefits, research directions, limitations and challenges of current E-nose systems are investigated and highlighted for fermented foods and beverage applications.

Fast and eco-friendly method using atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry to characterize orange varieties

Orange fruit is one of the most popular types of fruit in the world, and its juice is the main product of its processing. This study aimed to evaluate a simple, fast, and eco-friendly methodology, atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry (ASAP-MS), to assess the chemical profile of four oranges varieties (Valencia, Folha Murcha, Pera, and Iapar). The oranges' varieties were evaluated for the physicochemical composition (extraction yield, pH, total titratable acidity, total soluble solids [TSS], °Brix), ratio (TSS/TA), and bioactive compounds (ASAP-MS analysis). The characterization of oranges resulted in great values of oranges yield according to the varieties (44.00-48.10% [w/w], adequate and characteristic acidity [0.73-1.35%], soluble solids content (10.24-13.80°Brix), pH (3.30-3.96), and ratio (7.59-19.90) level for this fruit. This powerful method showed that all analysis procedures were simple, fast, and easy because there is no need to prepare the sample and the analysis time lasted 2 min. Besides, results obtained exhibited a vast array of chemical groups. Principal component analysis (PCA) defined and distinguished the varieties of the orange. Therefore, ASAP-MS and PCA showed that they are very attractive candidates for routine analysis to monitor the varieties of the orange with its pronounced advantages, besides being contributing to the environment because it does not use any quantities of organic solvents. This methodology was applied for the first time to this type of sample.

Evaluation of an Ionic Calcium Fiber Supplement and Its Impact on Bone Health Preservation in a Dietary Calcium Deficiency Mice Model

Ionic calcium can help in the prevention of the process of osseous decalcification. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties and toxic effects of ionic calcium-fiber supplement (ICa+) and its impact on bone health preservation in mice C57/BL6 fed a calcium-deficient diet. Physicochemical properties include FTIR, apparent calcium solubility estimated by the calcium ratio obtained by ionization chromatography and atomic absorption. In vitro genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of the ICa+ were assessed. Twenty-five 7-week-old C57/BL6 mice were fed calcium-free diet (CFD) or CFD plus CaCO3 (1.33 mg Ca) or CFD plus ICa+ (1.33-6.66 mg Ca) for six weeks. After that, bone mass and microstructure parameters were assessed. Histological staining was performed to determine calcium deposits. ICa+ (100%) exhibited an apparent calcium solubility higher than CaCO3 (12.3%). ICa+ showed no cytotoxic and genotoxic in vitro activities. Histomorphometry analysis showed that the ICa+ treated group displayed a higher trabecular number than the trabecular space. Also, the ratio BV/TV was increased compared with all treatments. Ionic calcium-fiber supplementation prevents bone deterioration compared to mice fed a calcium-deficient diet.

A Review on the Foodomics Based on Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Due to the globalization of food production and distribution, the food chain has become increasingly complex, making it more difficult to evaluate unexpected food changes. Therefore, establishing sensitive, robust, and cost-effective analytical platforms to efficiently extract and analyze the food-chemicals in complex food matrices is essential, however, challenging. LC/MS-based metabolomics is the key to obtain a broad overview of human metabolism and understand novel food science. Various metabolomics approaches (e.g., targeted and/or untargeted) and sample preparation techniques in food analysis have their own advantages and limitations. Selecting an analytical platform that matches the characteristics of the analytes is important for food analysis. This review highlighted the recent trends and applications of metabolomics based on "foodomics" by LC-MS and provides the perspectives and insights into the methodology and various sample preparation techniques in food analysis.

Validation of the Developed Zero-Order Infrared Spectrophotometry Method for Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Tranexamic Acid in Marketed Tablets

(1) Background: The functional groups present in tranexamic acid allow direct infrared detection analysis. This study aimed to develop, apply, and validate an infrared spectrophotometry method used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of tranexamic acid in marketed tablets. (2) Methods: This was a descriptive observational study that consisted of several stages: determining the specific wavenumber for analysis, obtaining a simple linear regression equation, analyzing tranexamic acid both qualitatively and quantitatively, and validating the developed method for routine analysis. (3) Results: The peak analysis obtained a range of baseline wavenumbers from 1679.17 to 1295.25 cm⁻¹. The regression equation obtained was Y = 310.8527 × X + 0.9718, and the coefficient of determination (R²) obtained was 0.9994. The tranexamic acids in marketed tablets overall have a similarity index value of more than 0.90 and overall have levels ranging between 97.0% and 103.0%. The infrared spectrophotometry method that was successfully developed, applied, and validated for qualitative and quantitative analyses of tranexamic acid in marketed tablets meets the requirements both qualitatively and quantitatively of the tablet monograph. (4) Conclusions: The infrared spectrophotometry method has been validated and meets the requirements for accuracy, precision, detection limit, quantitation limit, linearity, range, and specificity.

Metabolomics Approaches for the Comprehensive Evaluation of Fermented Foods: A Review

Fermentation is an important process that can provide new flavors and nutritional and functional foods, to deal with changing consumer preferences. Fermented foods have complex chemical components that can modulate unique qualitative properties. Consequently, monitoring the small molecular metabolites in fermented food is critical to clarify its qualitative properties and help deliver personalized nutrition. In recent years, the application of metabolomics to nutrition research of fermented foods has expanded. In this review, we examine the application of metabolomics technologies in food, with a primary focus on the different analytical approaches suitable for food metabolomics and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches. In addition, we summarize emerging studies applying metabolomics in the comprehensive analysis of the flavor, nutrition, function, and safety of fermented foods, as well as emphasize the applicability of metabolomics in characterizing the qualitative properties of fermented foods.

Development of a method for the detection of zinc in Brassica oleracea using solid phase extraction and size-exclusion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS)

The aim of this work is the development of a suitable method to extract and detect zinc-bound compounds from cabbage, broccoli and kale (family Brassicaceae, species oleracea) using solid phase extraction (SPE) and size-exclusion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS). Tris [2-Amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol]/hydrochloric acid (Tris/HCl) or ammonium nitrate were used as extractants added to the freeze-dried samples, which were then sonicated and centrifuged. An enzymatic mixture was added to the extracts and then incubated for 5- and 18 h prior to analysis by SEC-ICP-MS. Results showed a good coefficient of variation (CV) of the elution time (0.06-0.9%), concentration (4.7-16.9%) and molecular size (0.4-5.4%). The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.9 μg L-1 and 2.8 μg L-1, respectively. The proposed method is reliable and robust and can be applied to samples with difficult matrices like vegetables and soil.•Good precision, stability and reproducibility.•Easy to execute and suitable for analysis of vegetables and other samples with complex matrices, eg. soil.•This method contributed to good maintenance of the instrument and to minimal cleaning time.

The Role of High-Resolution Analytical Techniques in the Development of Functional Foods

The approaches based on high-resolution analytical techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance or mass spectrometry coupled to chromatographic techniques, have a determining role in several of the stages necessary for the development of functional foods. The analyses of botanical extracts rich in bioactive compounds is one of the fundamental steps in order to identify and quantify their phytochemical composition. However, the compounds characterized in the extracts are not always responsible for the bioactive properties because they generally undergo metabolic reactions before reaching the therapeutic targets. For this reason, analytical techniques are also applied to analyze biological samples to know the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and/or metabolism of the compounds ingested by animal or human models in nutritional intervention studies. In addition, these studies have also been applied to determine changes of endogenous metabolites caused by prolonged intake of compounds with bioactive potential. This review aims to describe the main types and modes of application of high-resolution analytical techniques in all these steps for functional food development.

Development of Simple Analytical Method for B-Group Vitamins in Nutritional Products: Enzymatic Digestion and UPLC-MS/MS Quantification

A method for the simultaneous determination of seven B-group vitamers including thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinamide, niacin, pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine in nutritional products by using enzymatic digestion followed by LC-MS/MS quantification was studied. The LC-MS/MS conditions such as MS transitions, mobile phase programs, and ammonium formate buffer concentrations, and sample treatment procedures (e.g., concentrations of buffer solution, digestion temperature, and digestion time) were investigated. The analytical method performance was evaluated by multiple criteria such as selectivity, linearity, detection and quantification limits, repeatability, reproducibility, and recovery by using real sample matrices. The validated method was successfully applied to analyze vitamin B concentrations in different nutritional products like ultra-heat-treated milk, powdered milk, and nutritional powder. Vitamin B concentrations varied over a wide range from lower than detection limits to about 9000 µg/100 g, depending on vitamin groups, compound forms, and sample types. The measured concentrations of B-group vitamins in our samples were generally in good agreement with values of label claims.