Development of certified reference materials for four polyunsaturated fatty acid esters

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Reference Materials Science

Background:

• Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) are crucial for analytical method validation and instrument calibration, demanding high accuracy and traceability.
• Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are vital components in biological systems and nutritional science, necessitating reliable quantification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and certify purity CRMs for four specific PUFA esters: DHA-ME, DHA-EE, EPA-ME, and EPA-EE.
• To ensure these CRMs meet ISO Guide standards for accuracy, traceability, homogeneity, and stability.

Main Methods:

• Development of purity CRMs for four PUFA esters following ISO Guide standards.
• Assignment of CRM purity values using a combination of quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) and mass balance approaches.
• Assessment of homogeneity and long-term stability under defined storage conditions.

Main Results:

• Certified purity values with expanded uncertainties (k=2) were established: DHA-ME (98.8 ± 0.4)%, DHA-EE (99.0 ± 0.3)%, EPA-ME (98.9 ± 0.4)%, and EPA-EE (98.9 ± 0.4)%.
• The developed PUFA ester CRMs demonstrated homogeneity and stability for 12 months at -4°C and 7 days at 50°C.

Conclusions:

• The successful development of these PUFA ester CRMs provides essential tools for accurate analytical measurements in relevant scientific fields.
• These CRMs enhance the reliability of data in research involving docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid analysis.