Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9600
+32 25889658
ISSN: 2155-9600
+32 25889658
Matteo Perini
Fondazione Edmund Mach, Italy
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nutr Food Sci
Statement of the problem: The analysis of the ratio between the heavy and light isotopes of the elements carbon (13C/12C), nitrogen (15N/14N), sulfur (34S/32S), oxygen (18O/16O) and hydrogen (2H/1H) is well known for its power to discriminate the geographical origin and guarantee the authenticity of many agri-food products. In recent years, the field of application of this technique has expanded to include nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, in particular in order to guarantee their natural origin. Chemically identical molecules are significantly different from an isotopic point of view due to the isotopic fractionation that occurs in different processes and reactions (biological, biochemical, physical, chemical, etc.) which generates unique isotopic signatures in the product synthesized by plants compared to that produced in the laboratory usually starting from fossil sources. Methodology & theoretical orientation: Thanks to the coupling of isotopic mass spectrometry to liquid chromatography (LC-IRMS) and gas chromatography (GCIRMS) it is now possible to discriminate between natural and/or synthetic origin not only of the bulk product but also of its specific components. The "Compound specific analysis" makes it possible to identify much more sophisticated frauds than in the past such as, for example, the addition of a single synthetic component to a natural substrate in order to artificially increase its strength. Findings: The δ13C analysis is a suitable tool to discriminate between Monacolin K (contained in red yeast rice-based dietary supplements) and the marketed statin [2] and between natural L-theanine (extracted from Camellia Sinensis) and the biosynthetically produced one [3]. The isotope ratios of hydrogen and, in some cases, carbon exhibit significantly different ranges of variability between natural extracts (such as curcuminoids [4] and cannabidiols [5]) and their synthetic adulterant, allowing for the identification of not only the two origins, but also the fraudulent additions of synthetic products to the natural complex (spiked samples). The combination of GC-MS/MS and GC-IRMS is potentially useful for botanical classification between lavender (Lavandula angostifolia) and lavandin (Lavandula hybrida) essential oils thus representing an additional powerful tool for assessing the authenticity of commercial essential oils. Conclusion: This study is the first of its kind investigating the role of micro and macronutrient intake on glucose homeostasis among Tunisians. Our results will help to establish a National Program for the prevention of diabetes adapted to the nutritional specificities of the Tunisian population. In perspective, it would be interesting to conduct nutrigenomic and nutrigenetic studies in Tunisia.
Matteo Perini graduated in Pharmacy at the University of Padua, Italy and get a Ph.D. in Agricultural Science and Biotechnology at the University of Udine, Italy. He is member of Italian Chemical Society and councillor of the professional association of Chemist. Since 2003, he has been working as a researcher at the Agricultural Institute of San Michele all’ Adige, now Fondazione Edmund Mach, where he is currently a supervisor of the ‘Stable Isotope and Traceability’ unit of the Centre for Technology Transfer. He is the author of about 70 scientific papers with IF and several communications at national and international conferences. Perini is currently working in the domain of food analysis. His main area of research concerns the application of stable isotope ratio analysis of bio-elements to food, aimed at characterizing geographical origin and controlling and protecting quality and authenticity.