Asparagine dosage

Asparagine is a non-essential amino acid naturally present in many plants such as cereals, legumes, tubers, fruits, and vegetables. Its quantification is of particular importance in several fields: human nutrition, nutraceuticals, animal feed, and plant research. Beyond its physiological role, asparagine is closely linked to the problem of acrylamide formation, an undesirable compound generated during certain thermal transformations such as cooking, roasting, or frying. Controlling its dosage is therefore a nutritional, regulatory, and industrial issue.

Principle and techniques of analysis

Asparagine determination is based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) techniques, after derivatization to improve detection and quantification. HPLC is a robust and widely used method for routinely separating and quantifying asparagine in different extracts. LC-MS is more sensitive and specific, particularly suitable for complex matrices and analyses requiring a very low detection limit. These analytical approaches are recognized for the reliable characterization of free amino acids in foods and plant extracts. To learn more about this technique, visit our page dedicated to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Technical characteristics
Target molecule: Asparagine
CAS No.: 70-47-3
Methods: HPLC, LC-MS after derivatization
Types of analyses: Physicochemical and nutritional
Analyzable matrices: plant extracts, foodstuffs, flours, food supplements, raw materials from the food industry or animal nutrition

Applications by sector

Human food
The asparagine assay is used to control the levels in cereal products, potatoes, biscuits, breads and other processed foods. It allows monitoring the potential formation of acrylamide , in accordance with European recommendations (EU Regulation 2017/2158 laying down mitigation measures and reference values). This analysis is therefore part of the prevention of newly formed compounds and can be combined with the direct acrylamide assay offered in our catalog.

Nutraceuticals
In the field of dietary supplements, the quantification of asparagine allows us to verify the quality and nutritional value of amino acid-rich formulations. It supports the development of functional products incorporating an optimized amino profile and meeting consumer expectations in terms of health nutrition. You can also consult our analytical services on other amino acids such as glutamine , free theanine or tryptamine .

Animal Nutrition
The analysis of asparagine in raw materials such as cereals, oilcakes, or flours allows for a better assessment of the nutritional quality of animal feed and contributes to the optimization of formulations for livestock. This service complements our animal nutrition analyses, particularly near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy applied to fodder and compound feed.

Plants and Agronomic Research
In plant research, asparagine assays are used to study amino acid metabolism in different species. It allows monitoring the impact of growing conditions such as water stress, nitrogen supply, or soil quality on asparagine content, with direct applications in varietal selection and agronomic improvement. This service can be combined with other plant metabolic profiling analyses available in our catalog.

Industrial and regulatory issues

Asparagine measurement serves a dual purpose. From a nutritional perspective, it helps characterize the amino acid profile and guarantee the nutritional value of products. From a safety and compliance perspective, it helps control risks related to the formation of acrylamide, which is classified as a probable human carcinogen (IARC, group 2A), and ensures compliance with the standards and reference values ​​set by the European Union. Food manufacturers are increasingly incorporating this parameter into their HACCP approaches, quality audits, and compliance requirements.

YesWeLab expertise

YesWeLab collaborates with a network of carefully selected laboratories, most of which are ISO 17025 certified and/or COFRAC accredited, to guarantee reliable results that comply with regulatory standards. Our partner laboratories are chosen based on the matrices to be analyzed and the appropriate analytical methods. We offer a centralized solution via our digital platform that simplifies analysis management, from ordering to sample tracking and receiving results. Since 2020, numerous manufacturers, distributors, and design offices have entrusted us with their samples for nutritional and physicochemical analyses.