Presentation title Presentation subhead Survey on nutrient measurements in laboratories (Task 3) Objectives 1.The need of using similar analytical methods.

Presentation title

Presentation subhead

Survey on nutrient measurements in laboratories (Task 3)

Objectives

1. The need of using similar analytical methods for micronutrient measurements throughout Europe.

2. Identify protocols for nutrient measurement in laboratories, assess their validity and suggest improvements which will lead to new laboratory standards and/or methods.

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cp. FOODLAB Ltd

Nicosia- CYPRUS

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What to Do

• Search for methods for analysis of micronutrients in Europe (e.g. vitamins, fatty acids, minerals, phytonutrients)

• Collate the methods.• Find out advantages and disadvantages of the methods in

measuring the levels of those micronutrients in food and food products.

• Study the problems and difficulties suggested. • Suggest any possible modifications in the analysis of these

components.• Propose protocols that could be used throughout European

analytical laboratories that could combine all the benefits of each specific analysis of the micronutrients

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Skip Work…………..

Example Results …………..

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Laboratories and MethodsMinerals in Food

(Cu, Se, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Zn, Li)

Total no of Labs 127

Method AAS 77

Method GFAAS 17

Method Hydride 14

Method ICP MS 10

Method ICP OES 9

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Laboratories and MethodsMinerals in Water

(Cu, Se, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Zn)

Total no of Labs 440

Method AAS 86

Method GFAAS 19

Method titrimetric

19

Method ICP MS 115

Method ICP OES

201

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Laboratories and Methods

Vitamin B12

Total no of Labs 23

Method ELISA 3

Method HPLC 10

Method Microbiological 10

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General Comments

1. For methods with the number of laboratories reporting less than 3, no comments can be made.

2. AAS means Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

3. GFASS mean Graphite Furnace AAS

4. Hydride means Hydride Generator Technique

5. ICP means Inductive Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometer

6. ICP OES mean ICP optical emission Spectrophotometer

7. ICP MS means ICP mass selective Spectrophotometer

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Comments

For Iodine

It appears that the use of ICP - MS give an accurate measurement with no failing rates in performing the analyses.

The use of other methods appear to be problematic.

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Comments

For Vitamins

It appears that today's methods do not always give an accurate measurement with a large failing rate.

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Possible problems in the analytical procedure(Food Micronutrient Analyses)

Ashing procedure Possible Problems Microwave Procedure Possible Problems

Ashing at High Temperature

Loss of measurands and/or sample

Sampling Small size sample

Filtering Loss of sample and/or contamination

Dedicated containers for MW

Possible contamination

Dilution Arithmetic error or not cleaned containers

Digestion For multi-samples different procedures

are needed

Moisture determination

Arithmetic error and/or sample loss

About 4 hours are needed

About one hour is needed

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Plus in the analytical procedure

Ashing procedure Microwave Procedure

High Sample mass No sample Loss

Single Sample procedure No filtering req.

Low Cost of consumables Digestion complete

Less expensive equipment Quicker

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ICP-OES Vs ICP-MS

Water at mg/l Similar Performance

(8-11% failure rate)

Water at μg/l Better OES performance

Possible Reason:

The ICP-MS is a new instrument in the market and the experience in its use not quite as good

The environmental conditions affect the ICP-MS

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Vitamins

• Three methods are used today for the determination of Vitamins:

– HPLC– Microbiological– Eliza

• A number of problems appear in any of the above methods. There is no evidence that one of the method is more successful than the rest, mainly due to the small size of the samples received.

• There is a general ‘feeling’ that the HPLC methods should be given a push. This is mainly due to the smaller time required to perform the analyses (as compared to the microbiological).

• It appears that the laboratories are not willing to participate in PTs. This is mainly due to the problematic participations and the frequent failures.

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Suggestion

To continue to work on Vitamins. Meaning:

– Collaborate with Universities, official bodies, and/or other laboratories to examine the methods experimentally and possibly develop methods for vitamin determination.

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Dissemination

Already

1. Presented the Work toa. The Council of the Cyprus Association of Dieticians and Nutritionistb. The Council of the Cyprus Consumer Associationc. An effort will be made to present the work to the conference of the

Dieticians and Nutritionists in Cyprus (Nov., 2008)

2. Article on the findings was accepted for publication by the Journal of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (reviewed Journal)

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Cp Foodlab ltd

Thank you for your attention