LCMS - NMR - HPLC (Polyphenols Measurement Methods)
To see for ourselves any differences between NMR LCMS HPLC, we put all of them to the test: We sent a sample from our exact same bottle from olive oil lot Δ25 (produced on 25th of September 2025), to be analyzed independently to:
- Faculty of Pharmacy in University of Athens (measuring with NMR 2924mg/kg total polyphenols)
- Department of Analytical Chemistry in University of Cordoba (measuring with LCMS 3107mg/kg total polyphenols)
- Chem Solutions, Certified EU Lab (measuring with HPLC 4412mg/kg total polyphenols)
For convenience, the comparison of the above results are presented side-by-side as:
CONCLUSION
- Comparing the above analyses in "absolute numbers" (NMR: 2924mg/kg of total polyphenols - LCMS: 3107mg/kg of total polyphenols - HPLC: 4412mg/kg of total polyphenols), even though each chemical compound may differ slightly, total polyphenols with NMR & LCMS methods are very similar (6% higher in LCMS). HPLC demonstrated a significant higher total polyphenols than the other two methods (around 50% more), while in the HPLC the Oleocanthal & Oleacein were mostly identified as DDLA (Dialdehydic Ligstroside Aglycon) & DDOA (Dialdehydic Oleuropein Aglycon)
- IT HAS ALSO TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THAT THE DISTANCE FROM OUR ESTATE TO UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS IS 270km (4 HOURS DRIVE), THE DISTANCE FROM OUR ESTATE TO UNIVERSITY OF CORDOBA IS +4000km (5 DAYS EXPRESS SHIPPING) & THE DISTANCE FROM OUR ESTATE TO CHEM SOLUTIONS IS 270km (4 HOURS DRIVE).
- THE MEASUREMENT WITH NMR (ATHENS) TOOK PLACE 1 DAY AFTER THE PRODUCTION OF THE OLIVE OIL, THE MEASUREMENT WITH LCMS (CORDOBA) TOOK PLACE 48 DAYS AFTER THE PRODUCTION OF THE OLIVE OIL & THE MEASUREMENT WITH HPLC (ATHENS) TOOK PLACE 97 DAYS AFTER THE PRODUCTION OF THE OLIVE OIL
=> LCMS & NMR ARE VERY SIMILAR IN RESULTS, LCMS SHOWS A LITTLE MORE TOTAL OLIVE OIL POLYPHENOLS (+6%) THAN THE NMR
=> HPLC BY FAR EXCEEDS LCMS & NMR IN RESULTS, SHOWING +50% HIGHER TOTAL POLYPHENOLS THAN LCMS OR NMR
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Allegations such as:
- "only HPLC shows the real polyphenols since it is recognised by the International Olive Oil Council"
- "LCMS is the gold standard"
- "NMR inflates polyphenols by 66% compared to LCMS and 70% compared to HPLC"
- "to convert the NMR to LCMS, multiply the NMR number by 0.6 to find the LCMS number"
- "to convert the NMR to HPLC, multiply the NMR number by 0.66 to find the HPLC number"
THAT WOULD ALSO MEAN BY "COUNTER REVERSING" THAT:
- OUR ABOVE LCMS ANALYSIS 3107mg/kg WOULD THEORETICALLY CORRESPOND TO 3107 x 1.66 = 5176mg/kg "NMR CONVERTED".
- OUR ABOVE HPLC ANALYSIS 4412mg/kg WOULD THEORETICALLY CORRESPOND TO 4412 x 1.50 = 6618mg/kg "NMR CONVERTED".
IN REALITY THE ABOVE EXPERIMENT (ANALYZE FROM THE SAME BOTTLE WITH NMR & LCMS & HPLC) DEMONSTRATED THAT ALL THREE METHODS AND RESULTS ARE VALID.
POLYPHENOLS MEASUREMENT METHODS ARE NOT "CONVERTABLE". NMR LCMS HPLC ARE SCIENTIFICALLY RECOGNISED WITHIN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AND EACH HAS ITS OWN PROVEN BACKGROUND.
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Again for convenience, the above are compared side-by-side in text:
NMR LCMS HPLC
Pharmacy Faculty Department of Analytical Chemistry Chem Solutions
University of Athens University of Cordoba EU Certified
Lot Δ25 / Produced on 25th of September 2025
Analysis Date: 26/09/2025 Analysis Date: 12/11/2025 Analysis Date: 30/12/2025
Athens Cordoba Athens
mg/kg
Oleocanthal 1836 1557
Oleacein 816 1238
Ligstroside Aglycon monoaldehyde 118 171 230.8
Ligstroside Aglycon dialdehyde 72 2694.2
Oleuropein Aglycon monoaldehyde 68 135 164.2
Oleuropein Aglycon dialdeyde 5 1198.8
Free Tyrosol 10 4.4 7.0
Hydroxytyrosol - 3.0 2.5
Oleocanthalic Acid - <LOQ
Apigenin - <LOQ 0.22
Luteolin - <LOQ 0.37
Other )vanillic acid, vanillin, coumaric acid, hydroxytyrosol acetate, ferulic acid, pinoresinol etc) 114.31
Total Polyphenols 2924 3107 4412.4
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