ABSTRACT:In this study, betaine content in cereal grains, cereal-based products, gluten-free grains and products of mainly local origin was surveyed. Estimates of betaine are currently a topic of considerable interest. The principal physiologic role of betaine is as an osmolyte and methyl donor. Inadequate dietary intake of methyl groups causes hypomethylation in many metabolic pathways which leads to alterations in liver metabolism and consequently, may contribute to numerous diseases such as coronary, cerebral, hepatic and vascular. Cereals are the main sources of betaine in human diet. Results showed that betaine content in grains is variable. Spelt grain was found to be a richer source of betaine (1848 g/g DM) than that of common wheat (532 g/g DM). Gluten-free ingredients and products were mainly low in betaine (<150 g/g DM). Amaranth grain is a remarkable gluten-free source of betaine (5215 g/g DM). Beet molasses is an ingredient which may increase betaine content in both cereal-based and gluten-free products.

Aiming to achieve a precise method with easy application, this study presents the development and validation of a fast method for quantification of vitamin DL-α-tocopherol in quinoa seeds. The methodology was based on an extraction procedure using ultrasonic bath and determination by normal-phase HPLC with UV-VIS detector. Validation parameters showed adequate linearity, relative standard deviations between 0.5 and 0.8% (n=10), limits of detection and quantification were 3.0 ng/mL and 11.0 ng/mL, respectively. Moreover, testing the robustness of the method suggested that it was not changeable with time or condition. The results showed that this method is accurate and simple and thus applicable in laboratories for determination of DL-α-tocopherol in quinoa seeds.