In the past several years, interest has increased in food additives and dietary supplements including prebiotics like β-galactooligosaccharides (known as GOSs). The GOSs are chains of galactose units with an optional glucose end [1,2]. They show bifidogenic effects, i.e. they support growth and well-being of non-pathogenic gut bacteria [1]. Initially discovered as major constituents of colostrum (present up to 12 g/L), GOSs are added as a prebiotic supplement to infant formulas to achieve similar beneficial effects.

Increasing consumer awareness regarding healthy eating habits has led to the ongoing growth of global prebiotic and GOS markets. Similarly, increased demand regarding food quality has led to stricter, more comprehensive rules for food labeling and safety (e.g., EU 2015/2283). The determination of total GOS contents in food, supplements, or raw products is thus essential to fulfill such requirements.

This Application Note presents an update to the standard AOAC method for total GOS determination in foodstuffs. With the same principle (enzymatic hydrolysis of complex GOS molecules followed by chromatographic analysis of simple carbohydrates), analytical method efficiency was improved in favor of laboratory time and running costs.

Different commercially available samples, i.e. GOS powder (Carbosyth Ltd.), Vivinal® GOS powder (FrieslandCampina), and the supplement Bimuno Daily (Clasado Biosciences) [3], were extracted for 30 minutes at 80 °C in a phosphate buffer solution as described in AOAC 2001.02. The extract was divided into two aliquots for differential analysis of glucose, galactose, and lactose, both before (Assay 1) and after (Assay 2) enzymatic hydrolysis with the enzyme β-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae (Figure 1). Samples were centrifuged and diluted in ultrapure water (UPW) before analysis.

Separation of galactose, glucose, and lactose was performed on a Metrosep Carb 2 - 250/4.0 separation column using a hydroxide eluent (Figure 2) within a recording time of 18 minutes. For column clean-up, a post-recording acetate High Pressure Gradient (HPG) was run within a total sample runtime of approximately 30 minutes. Signal detection occurred with an amperometric detector (945 Professional Detector Vario - Amperometry) equipped with a Thin-Layer cell (Au working and Pd reference electrode). The use of the Thin-Layer cell in combination with a special flexiPAD (pulsed amperometric detection) waveform exhibited the best performance for the GOS analysis. Compared to the standard PAD conditions this setup provided an increased response and signal-to-noise ratio.

After manual sample preparation, Inline Dialysis with the Low Volume dialysis cell was used to purify samples before injection into the IC. As a fully automated step, proteins and larger molecules are removed from the sample matrix, protecting the column and increasing the column lifetime.

Total GOS contents were calculated after automatic data evaluation (MagIC Net 3.3 software) according to AOAC. In short, the difference of galactose and glucose between Assay 1 and Assay 2 was determined (Figure 2), corrected by initial lactose and finally adjusted to a sample weight of 100 g.

Over the course to adapt and advance the standard AOAC method, different variables were tested and finally validated according to common standards. All details are given in the open access article Ziegler et al. [3].

Total GOS contents of the different samples ranged from 28–83 g/100 g with a variability of up to 5% for measurements of individual replicates over several days. A higher variability of 6–10% was shown for infant formulas (data not shown). The higher lactose contents in such matrices results in increased uncertainties for the total GOS determination [3].

Overall, the satisfying variability, target and spike recoveries (Table 1), together with the interference tests [2], proved the method as valuable and robust. With limits of detection (LODs) (DIN 32645) of 0.1 mg/L (galactose) and 0.2 mg/L (glucose, lactose) in solution, even low total GOS contents can be determined with high precision.

As a multicomponent method, ion chromatography with amperometric detection is a very selective, sensitive, and robust analysis method for carbohydrates without any additional derivatization steps. In combination with enzymatic treatment, even more complex carbohydrates can be quantified. The advanced and validated IC-flexiPAD method for total GOS analysis benefits analysts with enhanced efficiency. Through major sample preparation improvements, the overall procedure is not only faster by reducing additional lab work, but also reagents and consumables can be saved, lowering the total running costs. This makes it a valuable alternative to AOAC Official Method 2001.02.

Additional automation steps (e.g., Metrohm Inline Dilution and automatic calibrations) can further improve the method efficiency.