Lipidomic Analysis of Plant-Based Milks and Bovine Milk

This research article presents a comprehensive lipidomic analysis of triacylglycerol (TG) molecular species in coconut, almond, and soybean milks, comparing them with bovine milk. Utilizing liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, the study identifies a total of 557 TG molecular species, revealing significant differences in lipid profiles among the milk alternatives and bovine milk. The analysis highlights the most abundant TG molecular species for each type of milk, including TG 18:1_18:1_18:1 and TG 18:1_18:1_18:2 for almond milk, TG 18:2_18:2_18:2 for soy milk, and TG 12:0_10:0_12:0 for coconut milk. Additionally, the presence of unconventional fatty acids in almond and soy milks is documented. The study further identifies 30 molecular species as potential biomarkers for differentiating between milk types, supporting efforts in milk authentication and adulteration detection. This research contributes to the understanding of lipid composition in plant-based beverages, which is increasingly relevant due to the rising popularity of these products.