Estimation of the trans fatty acid content of edible oils and fats: an overview of analytical techniques

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that the consumption of trans fatty acids (TFA) may be linked to disturbances of human lipoprotein metabolism. In order to gain insight into this complex question, reliable techniques for the analysis of TFA are required. This article discusses the merits and shortcomings of widely used methods, mainly infra-red spectroscopy and various forms of chromatography, for the quantification of TFA in edible oils and fats.