Identification and quantification of α-dicarbonyl compounds produced in different sugar-amino acid Maillard reaction model systems

A mixture of α-dicarbonyl compounds generated from Maillard reaction (MR) model systems, comprising of fructose with glycine (Fru-Gly) and lysine (Fru-Lys); glucose with glycine (Glu-Gly) and lysine (Glu-Lys); ribose with glycine (Rib-Gly) and lysine (Rib-Lys), were identified and quantified. α-Dicarbonyl compounds generated in the hexose models were predominantly glucosone and 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), with 3-deoxypentosone (3-DP) and pentosone being the major α-dicarbonyls produced in the pentose models. Ethyl acetate extraction of model MRPs resulted in poor recovery of 2,3-diaminonaphthalene benzoquinoxalines of glucosone, 3-DG, pentosone, 3-DP and methylglyoxal (MGO), respectively. The temporal profiles of pentosone, 3-DP, glyoxal (GO) and MGO were similar in the pentose models, with maximum concentration occurring within 5 min. These four α-dicarbonyl compounds were higher (P < 0.05) in Rib-Gly than in Rib-Lys MR systems. The quantity of α-dicarbonyl compounds was affected by the interaction among the type of sugar and amino acid and the reaction time. The type of sugar is the most important factor that affected both the quantity and quality of α-dicarbonyl compounds produced in MR mixtures.

► Glucosone and 3-DG predominated in hexose MR models.
► 3-DP and pentosone were the major α-dicarbonyls produced in the pentose models.
► Ethyl acetate extraction resulted in poor recovery of benzoquinoxalines.
► Type of sugar affected both the quantity and quality of α-dicarbonyls mostly.