title: Proteomics in quality control: Whey protein-based supplements.
abstract: The growing consumption of nutritional supplements might represent a problem, given the concern about the quality of these supplements. One of the most used supplements is whey protein (WP); because of its popularity, it has been a target of adulteration with substitute products, such as cheaper proteins with lower biological value. To investigate this type of adulteration, this study used shotgun proteomics analyses by MS(E) (multiplexed, low- and high-collision energy, data-independent acquisition) of WP-based supplements. Seventeen WP-based supplement samples were evaluated. Chicken, maize, rice, potato, soybean, and wheat proteins were considered as probable sources of bovine whey adulteration. Collectively, 523 proteins were identified across all 16 samples and replicates, with 94% of peptides inside a normal distribution within 10ppm of maximum error. In 10 of the 16 samples analyzed, only proteins from bovine whey could be detected, while in the other samples several other protein sources were detected in high concentrations, especially soybean, wheat, and rice. These results point out a probable adulteration and/or sample contamination during manufacturing that could only be detected using this proteomic approach.
  
  
  
  The present work shows how shotgun proteomics can be used to provide reliable answers in quality control matters, especially focusing on Whey Protein nutritional supplements which are a very popular subject in food and nutrition. In order to achieve an appropriate methodology, careful evaluation was performed applying extremely rigorous quality criteria, established for the proteomic analysis. These criteria and the methodological approach used in this work might serve as a guide for other authors seeking to use proteomics in quality control.
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Metrologia Química, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia - INMETRO, Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: bcgarrido@inmetro.gov.br.
authors.forename: Bruno Carius
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.affiliation: MS Applications Research and Development Laboratory, Waters Corporation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo H M F
authors.initials: GHMF
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Macromoléculas, Diretoria de Metrologia Ligada às Ciências da Vida, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia - INMETRO, Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Metrologia Química, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia - INMETRO, Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: mfasciotti@inmetro.gov.br.
authors.forename: Maíra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fasciotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000592:standards*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D011786:Quality Control; D000067816:Whey Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000067816:Whey Proteins
keywords: Mass spectrometry; Nutritional supplements; Proteomics; Quality control; Whey protein