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LIBS: A Quality Control Tool for Food Supplements

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Abstract

In the present paper the ability of calibration free laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) as a quality control tool to monitor the composition of different minerals present in food supplement samples belonging to Indian brands (brand-A and brand-B) has been demonstrated. LIBS spectra of these two food supplements (brand-A and brand-B) available in the form of tablet have been recorded. As reported by manufacturers of these two food supplements, LIBS spectra of brand-A contains the spectral signatures of minerals like Ca, Mg, C, P, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Cr whereas LIBS spectra of brand-B shows the presence of spectral lines like Ca, Mg and C. The spectral signatures of Na and K are also found in both brands whereas spectral signature of Ti is observed only in brand-B but these elements are not mentioned on the nutritional label of the brands. The quantitative analysis of mineral contents in food supplements has been done using CF-LIBS for brand A and brand B to verify the content of the minerals reported by the manufacturer of the food supplements. Our results show that Ca and Mg are the main matrix elements of these brands. The concentration of minor and trace elements estimated using CF-LIBS technique is found in agreement with the reported nutritional values of both the brands. The concentration of major elements Ca and Mg are also estimated from Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy which is in close agreement with CF-LIBS result.

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Acknowledgement

Financial assistance from the BRNS, BARC, Mumbai (no. 2009/37/30/BRNS/2063) is gratefully acknowledged. Mr. Rahul Agrawal is grateful to Centre of Food Technology, University of Allahabad for Financial Assistance. Mr. Rohit Kumar is grateful to BRNS-BARC for Financial Assistance as JRF. Mrs. Shikha Rai is grateful to CSIR for Financial Assistance as SRF. Mr. Ashok Kumar Pathak is grateful to UGC, New Delhi (No.F.27-99(TF)/2009(NRCB) for granting Teacher Fellowship Award under FIP Scheme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Food Technology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211 002, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Rahul Agrawal & Gyanendra Kumar Rai

  2. Laser Spectroscopy Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211 002, India

    Rohit Kumar, Shikha Rai, Ashok Kumar Pathak & Awadhesh Kumar Rai

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  1. Rahul Agrawal
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  2. Rohit Kumar
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  3. Shikha Rai
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  4. Ashok Kumar Pathak
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  5. Awadhesh Kumar Rai
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  6. Gyanendra Kumar Rai
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Correspondence to Awadhesh Kumar Rai.

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Agrawal, R., Kumar, R., Rai, S. et al. LIBS: A Quality Control Tool for Food Supplements. Food Biophysics 6, 527–533 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11483-011-9235-y

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