Comparison of the nutrient composition of eggs produced in the Guatemalan highlands during the wet and dry seasons.

The potential of chicken eggs as a nutritionally complete protein and source of key micronutrients during the first 1000 days post-conception has been progressively recognized across the globe, particularly in resource-poor settings. Fluctuation of egg nutrient content by season is relatively unknown, which may influence international food composition databases and outcomes in intervention studies using egg supplementation. To better interpret the findings of The Saqmolo' Project, we conducted comprehensive nutrient analyses on eggs produced during the wet and dry seasons in the highlands of central Guatemala. We randomly collected 36 shell eggs from a local farm during both seasons, hard-boiled, and prepared them for transport to the United States, where they were pooled and assessed for their nutrient composition. Methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, the American Oil Chemists Society, and the American Association of Cereal Chemists were utilized to determine total energy, moisture, ash, total protein, total fat, fatty acids, total carbohydrates, 12 vitamins, 11 minerals, and carotenoids, by season, in some instances with modifications. Differences in nutrient composition between de-shelled hard-boiled eggs collected between seasons were assessed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's family error rate comparison test. Most nutrients in eggs produced in the highlands of central Guatemala differed negligibly (but statistically significantly) based on seasonality. Only vitamins A and E, folate, choline, and calcium fluctuated at clinically significant levels relative to the AI/RDA for infants 7-12 months. Total energy, protein, trans fatty acids, moisture, and vitamin D3 levels did not differ between seasons (p > .05). Further multi-year sampling is needed to examine how seasonal variation affects the nutrient composition of eggs. These data may be used to supplement existing national and regional food composition databases.

Analysis of Six Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) in Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals by 2AB Labeling and Quantification with HILIC-FLD: First Action 2022.02.

BACKGROUND: Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) function as a prebiotic, enhance immune functions, and support brain development for infants when fed mother's milk. These are added to infant formula and adult nutritionals in order provide these same benefits. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a method that can meet the AOAC Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR®) outlined by the AOAC INTERNATIONAL Stakeholder Panel for Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN) through a single-laboratory validation (SLV). METHODS: This work describes a method that can analyze six different HMOs that include 2'-fucosyllactose, 3-fucosyllactose, 3'-sialyllactose, 6'-sialyllactose, lacto-N-tetraose, and lacto-N-neotetraose. The method utilizes a derivatization procedure that labels the HMO with the fluorescent compound 2-aminobenzamide. The method was optimized to provide a non-toxic derivatization procedure, automate the removal of excess derivatization reagent, and provide a chromatographic separation that can analyze multiple HMOs in a single profile. RESULTS: A summary from the SLV is provided. CONCLUSION: The SLV was reviewed by the AOAC SPIFAN Expert Review Panel, and determined the method met the SMPR requirements for six HMO. HIGHLIGHTS: The method was granted First Action Official MethodsSM status.