Microbiological assay-trienzyme procedure for total folates in cereals and cereal foods: collaborative study.

In 1996, U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations mandated the fortification of enriched cereal-grain products with folic acid, thereby emphasizing the need for validated methods for total folates in foods, particularly cereal products.

Potential application of LASER/microbe bioassay technology for determining water-soluble vitamins in foods.

A microbiological technique was developed for quantitating niacin by determining microbial growth rates in response to the amount of vitamin available. Unlike the current official AOAC method, the new procedure for niacin measured the growth rates during the early exponential growth phase rather than during the stationary phase. Lactobacillus plantarum was used to determine niacin to a lower limit of 100 pg/mL.

Comparison of liquid chromatographic method to AOAC microbiological method for determination of L-tryptophan in tablets and capsules.

A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (LC) method coupled with precolumn derivatization of L-tryptophan with phenylisothiocyanate was compared to the AOAC microbiological method for determining L-tryptophan in tablets and capsules. For the microbiological method, the concentrations of L-tryptophan were 4-8% lower in autoclaved test samples (hot method) than in test samples that were not autoclaved (cold method). When L-tryptophan values obtained by the LC method were compared to those obtained by the cold microbiological method, no significant differences were observed (P > 0.

Survey of vitamin content of fortified milk.

This paper summarizes work done by 4 different laboratories on the vitamin content of milk. Riboflavin, vitamin A, and vitamin D were assayed in whole, 2%, and skim milks that had been fortified. In general, the adherence to label claim decreased with decreasing fat content.

National Bureau of Standards reference materials as organic nutrient standards: a preliminary study.

A preliminary study was conducted to determine if the available National Bureau of Standards (NBS) Standard Reference Materials (SRM) Non-Fat Powdered Milk, Oyster Tissue, Wheat Flour, Rice Flour, Spinach, and Albacore Tuna would be suitable for use as organic nutrient standards. These materials were assayed for folates, total pantothenates, vitamin B6, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and protein. Vitamins A, E, D, K, and C were also assayed but, for the most part, were not detected.