Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of Micronutrients and Heavy Metals in Portuguese Infant Milk Powders by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (WDXRF)

  • Published:
Food Analytical Methods Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Concentrations of trace mineral nutrients such as Cu, Fe, and Zn have been analyzed by WDXRF in eight different infant milk powders, representing the majority of the milk powder brands commercialized in Portuguese pharmacies. Results suggest that the concentrations of some of elements analyzed are not consistent with the values labeled by manufacturers. However, all fall inside the concentration ranges defined by the Portuguese and European legislations, except for Al. The presence of aluminum was detected in all analyzed formulations in an average concentration of 8.25 to 19.75 mg Kg−1. This study also reveals the feasibility of WDXRF for the quantitative analysis of trace mineral nutrients in milk powder samples. Moreover, the approach described herein, using the WDXRF technique in helium mode, presents a new methodological advantage over similar published studies. This technique may represent an option for quality control of milk powder formulations, particularly at their production site.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abernethy DR, Destefano AJ, Cecil TL, Zaidi K, Williams RL (2010) Metal impurities in food and drugs. Pharm Res 27(5):750–755

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bruker (2004) Introduction to X-ray fluorescence analysis. Manual Bruker AXS GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2006) Commission Directive 2006/141/EC on infant formulae and follow-on formulae—Official Journal of the European Union, 401/1-401/33

  • Gunicheva TN (2009) Advisability of X-ray fluorescence analysis of dry residue of cow milk applied to monitor environment. X- Ray Spectrometry 39(1):22–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hannan MA, Faraji B, Tanguma J, Longoria N, Rodriguez RC (2009) Maternal milk concentration of Zinc, Iron, Selenium, and Iodine and its relationship to dietary intakes. Biol Trace Elem Res 127(1):6–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ikem A, Nwankwoala A, Odueyungbo S, Nyavor K, Egiebor N (2002) Levels of 26 elements in infant formula from USA, UK, and Nigeria by microwave digestion and ICP-OES. Food Chem 77(4):439–447

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • International conference on harmonization of technical requirements for registration of pharmaceuticals for human use (ICH) (2005) Validation of analytical procedures: Text and Methodology Q2(R1, 1-13

  • Kira CS, Maihara VA (2007) Determination of major and minor elements in dairy products through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry after wet partial digestion and neutron activation analysis. Food Chem 100(1):390–395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korn MDGA, Morte ESB, Santos DCMB, Castro JC, Barbosa JTP, Teixeira AP, Fernandes AP, Welz B, Santos WPCS, Santos EBGN, Korn M (2008) Sample preparation for the determination of metals in food samples using spectroanalytical methods - A Review. Appl Spectrosc Rev 43(2):67–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lesniewicz A, Wroz A, Wojcik A, Zyrnicki W (2010) Mineral and nutritional analysis of Polish infant formulas. J Food Compos Anal 23(5):424–431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lönnerdal B, Kelleher SL (2009) Micronutrient transfer: infant absorption. Adv Exp Med Biol 639:29–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marguí E, Fontàs C, Buendía A, Hidalgo M, Queralt I (2009) Determination of metal residues in active pharmaceutical ingredients according to European current legislation by using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. J Anal At Spectrom 24(9):1253–1257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Navarro-Blasco I, Alvarez-Galindo JI (2003) Aluminium content of Spanish infant formula. Food Addit Contam 20(5):470–481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nordberg GF, Fowler BA, Nordberg M (2007) Handbook on the toxicology of metals, 3rd ed. Academic Press, Maryland, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Pashkova GV (2009) X-ray fluorescence determination of element contents in milk and dairy products. Food Anal Methods 2(4):303–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perring L, Andrey D (2003) EDXRF as a tool for rapid minerals control in milk-based products. J Agric Food Chem 51(15):4207–4212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perring L, Andrey D (2004) Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence measurements on organic matrices: application to milk based products. X-Ray Spectroscopy 33(2):128–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perring L, Andrey D, Basic-Dvorzak M, Blanc J (2005a) a) Rapid multimineral determination in infant cereal matrices using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence. J Agric Food Chem 53(12):4696–4700

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perring L, Andrey D, Basic-Dvorzak M, Hammer D (2005b) b) Rapid quantification of iron, copper and zinc in food premixes using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. J Food Compos Anal 18(7):655–663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perring L, Blanc J (2008a) Faster measurement of minerals in milk powders: comparison of a high power wavelength dispersive XRF system with ICP-AES and potentiometry reference methods. Food Anal Methods 1(3):205–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perring L, Blanc J (2008b) Validation of quick measurement of mineral nutrients in milk powders: comparison of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy and potentiometry reference methods. Sens & Instrumen Food Qual 2(4):254–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saracoglu S, Saygu KO, Uluozlu OD, Tuzen M, Soylak M (2007) Determination of trace element contents of baby foods from Turkey. Food Chem 105(1):280–285

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez EM, Sanz AM, Díaz RC (2000) Concentrations of iron, copper and zinc in human milk and powdered infant formula. Int J Food Sci Nutr 51(5):373–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sola-Larrañaga C, Navarro-Blasco I (2009) Optimization of a slurry dispersion method for minerals and trace elements analysis in infant formulae by ICP-OES and FAAS. Food Chem 115(3):1048–1055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuzen M, Soylakb M (2007) Evaluation of trace elements in canned foods marketed from Turkey. Food Chem 102(4):1089–1095

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Grieken RE, Markowicz AA (2002) Handbook of X-Ray spectrometry; methods and techniques, 2nd ed. Marcel Dekker, Inc, New York, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Zand N, Chowdhry BZ, Zotor FB, Wray DS, Amuna P, Pullen FS (2011) Essential and trace elements content of commercial infant foods in the UK. Food Chem 128:123–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2007) Sixty-eighth report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives—evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants, WHO Technical Report Series (947)

  • World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2008) CAC/RCP 66-2008—Code of Hygienic Practice Powdered Formulae for Infants and Young Children, Codex Alimentarius Commission, 1-29

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Egas Moniz Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL, for the financial support.

Conflict of Interest

Tânia A. P. Fernandes declares that she has no conflict of interest. José A. Brito declares that he has no conflict of interest. Luísa L. Gonçalves declares that she has no conflict of interest. This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz (CiiEM), Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Campus Universitário, Quinta da Granja, 2829-511, Caparica, Portugal

    Tânia A. P. Fernandes, José A. A. Brito & Luísa M. L. Gonçalves

Authors
  1. Tânia A. P. Fernandes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José A. A. Brito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Luísa M. L. Gonçalves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luísa M. L. Gonçalves.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fernandes, T.A.P., Brito, J.A.A. & Gonçalves, L.M.L. Analysis of Micronutrients and Heavy Metals in Portuguese Infant Milk Powders by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (WDXRF). Food Anal. Methods 8, 52–57 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-014-9866-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-014-9866-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation