Full characterization of hemicellulose-derived supplements by multi-analytical approach

Hemicellulose-based supplements are complex products with diverse chemical compositions. Although their potential beneficial effects depend on the precise chemical structure of the main compounds, this structure is not always monitored. Our study employed a multiplatform characterization approach, utilizing GC-MS, UPLC-MS, HPSEC-RID, 1H NMR, and UHPLC-IM-Q-ToF-HRMS, to perform full characterization of four hemicellulose supplements. The results revealed significant compositional differences in macronutrients and target molecules. The (arabino)-xylooligosaccharides ((A)XOS) content ranged from 76 % to 91 % in three supplements, while the fourth was constituted by insoluble arabinoxylan in its polymeric form. (A)XOS exhibited considerable variability in acetylation degree and arabinose content, while untargeted metabolomics analysis detected some unknown oligosaccharides. These structural differences likely contribute to significant variations in functional properties. High-throughput analytical methods are necessary to provide detailed compositional information. Either this step or a change in legislation is crucial to prevent misleading or inaccurate label claims that could deceive consumers.