Fatty acids (FAs) are the main components of lipids, and the physical, chemical, and physiological properties of lipids largely depend on their fatty acid composition. The composition of fatty acids is determined by measuring the methyl esterified fatty acids using gas chromatography. Trans fatty acids are a form of unsaturated fat that occur in small amounts in nature, but have been widely industrially produced from plant fats since the 1950s for use in margarine, packaged baked goods, snack foods, and fried fast foods. It has been proven that trans fatty acids have been associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, a leading cause of death in Western countries.
Total Trans Fatty Acids Analysis
GC-MS provides numerous methods for the qualitative characterization of FAs. For example, using 70 eV EI ionization, one can analyze pyrrole, dimethyloxazoline, pyridyl, pentafluorodimethylsilyl, and trimethylsilyl derivatives of FAs for structural determination. EI ionization of these less common FA derivatives can result in different fragmentation patterns that help in locating the branching and unsaturation positions of FAs. The simplest method for the quantitative analysis of methylated fatty acids by EI-MS is to monitor a series of mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) values that cover expected fragments of the analytes, and then determine the content by integrating chromatographic peaks in the total ion count (TIC) chromatogram.
BiotechPack provides reliable, fast, and cost-effective total trans fatty acid analysis services based on a highly stable, reproducible, and sensitive system for separation, characterization, identification, and quantitative analysis. We welcome inquiries!
