[Determination of polydextrose in food using ion exchange chromatography and pulsed amperometric detection]

A method to determine the synthetic carbohydrate polydextrose, which is used as a bulking agent for the preparation of calorie-reduced foodstuffs, is described. The sample clean-up involves the extraction of polydextrose with water and enzymatic degradation of interfering polysaccharides, such as starch and inulin. The chromatographic system consists of a high-performance anion-exchange column that separates carbohydrates up to molecular weights of 15,000 and pulsed amperometric detection. For unbaked goods recoveries ranged from 94 to 106%, for baked goods recovery rates of 100 to 115% were measured.