Characterization of the Lipid Fraction in Lamb Meat: Comparison of Different Lipid Extraction Methods

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of four different extraction methods commonly used to quantify the intramuscular lipid content in meat: the Association of Analytical Chemists (AOAC) method (reference method) and methods based on the use of a solvent mixture with different polarities, such as chloroform–methanol described by Folch et al. (J Biol Chem 226:497, 1957) and Christie (1989) or hexane–isopropanol described by Hara and Radin (Anal Biochem 90:420, 1978). The following parameters were taken into account: lipid content; relative proportions of neutral and polar lipids; fatty acid composition of total, neutral, and polar lipid fractions; and phospholipid composition. The use of a combination of solvents with different polarities (Hara–Radin, Folch, and modified Folch methods) was more effective in extracting intramuscular lipids than the use of a single solvent (AOAC, reference method). The Hara–Radin method provided a cleaner lipid extract with a significantly higher content of total fatty acids than that obtained with the Folch and modified Folch methods. The lower polarity of the hexane–isopropanol mixture allowed us to obtain an extract richer in neutral lipids (triglycerides and diglycerides) and thus in saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. The percentage distribution of individual fatty acids in the neutral lipid fraction was generally not affected by the extraction method adopted, while lipid obtained with both the Hara–Radin and Folch methods had a polar fraction with a higher percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The use of the Hara–Radin method provided a polar fraction with less nonlipid material and lower phospholipid degradation.