Determination of sugars, and some other compounds in infant formulae, follow-up milks and human milk by HPLC-UV/RI

In the present study the composition of sugars, uric and erotic acids in infant formulae and follow-up milks commercially available on the local market is reported. The levels found are compared with Portuguese and European Standards and with human and bovine milk composition. Fifty samples including all such products were analysed, using a rapid and accurate HPLC procedure developed for that purpose, which allowed simultaneous determination of lactose, glucose, galactose, saccharose, maltose, uric and erotic acids in less than 15 min, by HPLC using refractive index and UV detectors connected in series. Similar concentrations of lactose and uric acid were obtained for infant formulae, follow-up milks and human milk. The concentrations of erotic acid found in infant formulae and follow-up milk solutions were similar to those determined for bovine milk. No erotic acid was detected in human milk. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.