Determination of triacylglycerols in milk fat from different species using UPLC–Q-TOF–MS

Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are the major component of milk lipids and play important technological, nutritional and physiological roles. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC–Q-TOF–MS) was used to characterise TAGs in cow, yak, donkey, goat, and camel milk fat. TAG separation based on partition number was achieved through an acetonitrile-isopropanol gradient elution. A total of 47, 52, 61, 75, and 87 TAGs were identified in camel, goat, donkey, cow, and yak milk fat, respectively, by UPLC–Q-TOF–MS. The most abundant TAG species in cow, yak, donkey, goat, and camel milk fat was 38:1, 40:3, 38:1, 40:1, and 52:2, respectively. TAG analysis using UPLC–Q-TOF–MS proved its potential to analyse different kinds of milk fat. This work contributes to a better understanding of the TAGs found in milk from various species.