Determining the Authenticity of <i>Spirulina</i> Dietary Supplements Based on Stable Isotope and Elemental Composition
While the demand for <i>Spirulina</i> dietary supplements continues to grow, product inspection in terms of authenticity and safety remains limited. This study used the stable isotope ratios of light elements (C, N, S, H, and O) and the elemental composition to characterize <i>Spir...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/3/562 |
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| author | Jasmina Masten Rutar Lidija Strojnik Marijan Nečemer Luana Bontempo Nives Ogrinc |
| author_facet | Jasmina Masten Rutar Lidija Strojnik Marijan Nečemer Luana Bontempo Nives Ogrinc |
| author_sort | Jasmina Masten Rutar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While the demand for <i>Spirulina</i> dietary supplements continues to grow, product inspection in terms of authenticity and safety remains limited. This study used the stable isotope ratios of light elements (C, N, S, H, and O) and the elemental composition to characterize <i>Spirulina</i> dietary supplements available on the Slovenian market. Forty-six samples were labelled as originating from the EU (1), non-EU (6), Hawaii (2), Italy (2), Japan (1), Portugal (2), Taiwan (3), India (4), and China (16), and nine products were without a declared origin. Stable isotope ratio median values were –23.9‰ (–26.0 to –21.8‰) for <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C, 4.80‰ (1.30–8.02‰) for <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N, 11.0‰ (6.79–12.7‰) for <i>δ</i><sup>34</sup>S, –173‰ (– 190 to –158‰) for <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H, and 17.2‰ (15.8–18.8‰) for <i>δ</i><sup>18</sup>O. Multivariate statistical analyses achieved a reliable differentiation of Hawaiian, Italian, and Portuguese (100%) samples and a good separation of Chinese samples, while the separation of Indian and Taiwanese samples was less successful, but still notable. The study showed that differences in isotopic and elemental composition are indicative of sample origins, cultivation and processing methods, and environmental conditions such that, when combined, they provide a promising tool for determining the authenticity of <i>Spirulina</i> products. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:45:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa730dcbe3eb427c86dc149cb96ef491 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:45:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa730dcbe3eb427c86dc149cb96ef4912023-11-16T16:41:08ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582023-01-0112356210.3390/foods12030562Determining the Authenticity of <i>Spirulina</i> Dietary Supplements Based on Stable Isotope and Elemental CompositionJasmina Masten Rutar0Lidija Strojnik1Marijan Nečemer2Luana Bontempo3Nives Ogrinc4Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Low and Medium Energy Physics, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Food Quality and Nutrition, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, ItalyDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaWhile the demand for <i>Spirulina</i> dietary supplements continues to grow, product inspection in terms of authenticity and safety remains limited. This study used the stable isotope ratios of light elements (C, N, S, H, and O) and the elemental composition to characterize <i>Spirulina</i> dietary supplements available on the Slovenian market. Forty-six samples were labelled as originating from the EU (1), non-EU (6), Hawaii (2), Italy (2), Japan (1), Portugal (2), Taiwan (3), India (4), and China (16), and nine products were without a declared origin. Stable isotope ratio median values were –23.9‰ (–26.0 to –21.8‰) for <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C, 4.80‰ (1.30–8.02‰) for <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N, 11.0‰ (6.79–12.7‰) for <i>δ</i><sup>34</sup>S, –173‰ (– 190 to –158‰) for <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H, and 17.2‰ (15.8–18.8‰) for <i>δ</i><sup>18</sup>O. Multivariate statistical analyses achieved a reliable differentiation of Hawaiian, Italian, and Portuguese (100%) samples and a good separation of Chinese samples, while the separation of Indian and Taiwanese samples was less successful, but still notable. The study showed that differences in isotopic and elemental composition are indicative of sample origins, cultivation and processing methods, and environmental conditions such that, when combined, they provide a promising tool for determining the authenticity of <i>Spirulina</i> products.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/3/562<i>Spirulina</i><i>Arthrospira</i> spp.dietary supplementsstable isotope ratioelementsauthenticity |
| spellingShingle | Jasmina Masten Rutar Lidija Strojnik Marijan Nečemer Luana Bontempo Nives Ogrinc Determining the Authenticity of <i>Spirulina</i> Dietary Supplements Based on Stable Isotope and Elemental Composition Foods <i>Spirulina</i> <i>Arthrospira</i> spp. dietary supplements stable isotope ratio elements authenticity |
| title | Determining the Authenticity of <i>Spirulina</i> Dietary Supplements Based on Stable Isotope and Elemental Composition |
| title_full | Determining the Authenticity of <i>Spirulina</i> Dietary Supplements Based on Stable Isotope and Elemental Composition |
| title_fullStr | Determining the Authenticity of <i>Spirulina</i> Dietary Supplements Based on Stable Isotope and Elemental Composition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determining the Authenticity of <i>Spirulina</i> Dietary Supplements Based on Stable Isotope and Elemental Composition |
| title_short | Determining the Authenticity of <i>Spirulina</i> Dietary Supplements Based on Stable Isotope and Elemental Composition |
| title_sort | determining the authenticity of i spirulina i dietary supplements based on stable isotope and elemental composition |
| topic | <i>Spirulina</i> <i>Arthrospira</i> spp. dietary supplements stable isotope ratio elements authenticity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/3/562 |
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