Evaluation of Lipid Composition and Nutritional Quality of Olive Oil Varieties Using ESI-MS, GC-FID and Chemometrics Techniques

Olive oil is a highly demanded product renowned for its unique taste and diverse nutrient content, primarily composed of lipids. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the lipid profiles of four olive varieties (Arbequina, Arbosana, Koroneiki, and Frantoio) and their corresponding commercial olive oils using advanced analytical techniques, namely electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and gas chromatography with flame ionization detector, combined with principal component analysis. The nutritional quality of the olive oils was evaluated based on parameters such as the ratio of saturated acids to polyunsaturated acids, atherogenicity, thrombogenicity, and andhypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic indexes. The study revealed that the primary fatty acids identified were palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids, while triolein, palmitodiolein, and stearodiolein emerged as the most abundant triacylglycerol across all samples. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the commercial olive oil samples exhibited an exceptional nutritional profile. Overall, this study highlights the significance and efficacy of the analytical and statistical techniques employed to unravel the lipid profiles of olive oils, a product of substantial commercial value and susceptible to adulteration. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of utilizing nutritional quality indices to assess the health benefits associated with olive oil consumption.