Capillary electrophoresis determination of non-protein amino acids as quality markers in foods

•Recent advances on the determination of non-protein amino acids by CE are reviewed.•Non-protein amino acids have a high potential as quality markers in foods.•Enantiomeric determination of NPAA can provide relevant information on food quality.

Non-protein amino acids mainly exist in food as products formed during food processing, as metabolic intermediates or as additives to increase nutritional and functional properties of food. This fact makes their analysis and determination an attractive field in food science since they can give interesting information on the quality and safety of foods. This article presents a comprehensive review devoted to describe the latest advances in the development of (achiral and chiral) analytical methodologies by capillary electrophoresis and microchip capillary electrophoresis for the analysis of non-protein amino acids in a variety of food samples. Most relevant information related to sample treatment, experimental separation and detection conditions, preconcentration strategies and limits of detection will be provided.