Botanical Oils Containing Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

The Analytical Chemistry Division has developed a collaborative program with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements (NIH/ODS) to produce a number of authentic, well-characterized reference materials to support the needs of the dietary supplement community. SRM 3274 Botanical Oils Containing Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids consists of individual ampoules of evening primrose, borage, flaxseed, and perilla seed oils and is characterized for individual fatty acids.

Dietary supplements in general have sometimes been found to be inaccurately labeled, adulterated, or contaminated. Because of a recognized lack of analytical methods and reference materials, NIH/ODS was mandated by Congress to fund development of methods and materials for dietary supplements. SRM 3274 Botanical Oils Containing Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids will be used as a control material for measurements made by the dietary supplement, food, clinical, and nutrition communities, as well as for method validation.

Fatty acids are typically present in plant and animal tissues as triglycerides, which are saponified (hydrolyzed) and converted to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) for analysis by gas chromatography. For value assignment of fatty acids in SRM 3274, two independent methods were utilized. Multiple deuterated fatty acids were added to the samples for use as internal standards. The samples were extracted and the triglycerides were converted to free fatty acids through saponification. The derivatized fatty acid mixture was analyzed by both gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and by GC with mass spectrometric detection (MSD). 

Major Accomplishments:     

• SRM 3274, an SRM suite composed of individual ampoules of evening primrose, borage, flaxseed, and perilla seed oils has been developed and characterized for fatty acid content.     
• Multiple analytical methods were implemented for the measurement of fatty acids in plant oils.

To view the Certificate of Analysis for SRM 3274, click here.