1H-NMR testing of functional ingredients in food supplements
Precise determination of melatonin, creatine, magnesium stearate and more
March 2025. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a proven method for the determination of functional ingredients - either as raw materials or finished products. The technique is increasingly used both by official monitoring and private laboratories.
Ensure product quality: 1H-NMR for food supplements
In particular in the field of food supplements, the 1H-NMR method has proven highly useful for several analytes in recent time, such as
- Melatonin
- Creatine
- Stearate
The short measurement time makes the method suitable for high-throughput analyses and allows short run times even for large sample series. The technique is extremely versatile and can be used to directly analyse pure substances or mixtures.
As a leading laboratory service provider for food & feed testing, we can support you with the right analytical offer.
Secure product claims
Verification of product declarations and claims is key to demonstrating compliance, building consumer confidence and enhancing brand reputation. NMR analysis helps to identify the presence and quantity of specific functional ingredients and to prove the absence of selected additives. For example, NMR has been found to be advantageous in the determination of magnesium stearate, an approved additive commonly used in food supplements. If a product is advertised as being 'free from stearate', NMR has proven to be the method of choice to verify this claim.
Universal quantification
In addition to melatonin, creatin and stearate, many other value-giving ingredients (or substances with legally regulated maximum amounts) can be determined. Frequently requested parameters include betaine, coenzyme Q10, curcuminoids, methylsulfonyl-methan (MSM), nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and silymarin. Further analytes are available upon request.
In the 1H-NMR measurement almost all ingredients of the sample are detected simultaneously and can be quantified. Quantification does not require standards of the substances to be determined. Sample preparation is not very complex and can be easily adapted. This means that enquiries for which there is no established routine method can be processed directly.
Your benefits of using our 1H-NMR-services
- Optimise quality: Verify the presence and concentration of key functional ingredients.
- Secure product claims: Validate your product claims with precise and reliable data.
- Enhance product development: Gain valuable data to refine and improve your formulations.
- Boost consumer confidence: Provide transparent and reliable information to your customers.
Ensure product integrity
Discover the outstanding accuracy of 1H-NMR analysis that provides detailed insight into the composition of your ingredients and products, ensuring the highest quality and efficacy.
