Analysis of sphingomyelin in meat based on hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-HPLC-ESI-MS/MS).

The amount of sphingomyelin in different kinds of meat was analyzed by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC-HPLC) coupled with electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Analysis comprised sphingomyelin species with the five different sphingoid bases dihydrosphingosine (d18:0), sphingosine (d18:1(Delta4)), 4,8-sphingadienine (d18:2(Delta4,8)), 4-hydroxysphinganine (phytosphingosine (t18:0)), and 4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine (t18:1), and fatty acids with 12-26 carbon atoms as well as their (poly)unsaturated (up to four double bonds) and monohydroxylated analogues. Most sphingolipids contained sphingosine (d18:1) as the predominant sphingoid base, while stearic acid and palmitic acid were found as prevalent fatty acids. Total amounts vary from 361-471 mg/kg, whereas the meat of the wild animals showed considerably lower amounts.