Mineral Dosage

Minerals are micronutrients essential for optimal body function, both in humans and in animal nutrition. Calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, sodium, and copper are involved in vital functions: energy metabolism, bone structure, electrolyte balance, and enzymatic and immune function. Mineral determination allows for verification of actual nutritional intake, assessment of the quality of enriched formulations, and characterization of plant extracts or functional ingredients. It is an essential tool for regulatory compliance and the promotion of food or nutraceutical products.

Analytical methods for the determination of minerals

Mineral dosage is based on reference spectroscopic techniques, recognized for their sensitivity and reliability:

• ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) : allows for high-precision measurement of trace and ultra-trace element concentrations.
• ICP-OES / ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry) : ideal for the simultaneous quantification of multiple minerals in complex matrices.
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) : complementary method suitable for the targeted determination of certain elements.

These approaches are comparable to those used for the determination of heavy metals , guaranteeing reliable detection even at very low levels.

Industrial and regulatory applications

Mineral dosage meets many industrial and scientific needs:

• Human nutrition : verification of the nutritional contributions of processed products, control of foods enriched with calcium, magnesium or iron.
• Nutraceuticals : standardization of food supplements and plant extracts, particularly those intended for bone support, immunity or vitality.
• Animal nutrition : formulation and quality control of feed for livestock or pets to ensure a balanced intake of essential minerals.
• Plant products and botanical extracts : characterization of the mineral composition for the valorization of natural ingredients.

This analysis complements other essential services for nutritional control, such as vitamin dosage or dietary fiber dosage.

Matrices analyzed for mineral dosage

YesWeLab's partner laboratories perform mineral assays in a wide range of matrices: food powders, nutritional supplements, plant extracts, functional drinks, enriched ingredients, and animal formulations. Each matrix benefits from a tailored preparation (acid digestion, dilution, mineralization) to ensure the reliability and representativeness of the results.

Quality and traceability issues

Mastering mineral composition is crucial for:

• Ensure regulatory compliance with European and international standards for nutritional labeling.
• Check the consistency between the declared content and the actual content of the enriched products.
• Guarantee reproducibility between production batches , an essential factor for consumer and distributor confidence.
• Optimizing formulations in human and animal nutrition to achieve health and performance objectives.

These issues are comparable to those encountered during the measurement of amino acids , another key parameter of nutritional balance.

YesWeLab's expertise in mineral dosage

YesWeLab collaborates with a network of more than 200 partner laboratories in France and Europe, accredited ISO 17025 and COFRAC. Our experts guide each project toward the most appropriate method based on the matrix and objectives: quality control, regulatory validation, or research and development. Thanks to our digital platform, you benefit from simplified management of your analyses: online quote requests, sample tracking, and rapid delivery of results. Since 2020, manufacturers, distributors, and design offices have entrusted us with the mineral characterization of their products to ensure their safety and compliance.

Take action

Do you want to analyze the mineral composition of your extracts, supplements, or nutritional formulations? Entrust your samples to YesWeLab for reliable and accurate mineral dosage. Request a quote online now for your analyses.