Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) is a crop traditionally grown in Valencia Region (Spain) and other temperate and tropical regions in the world, where its tubers are commonly consumed as tiger nut milk (horchata). Because of their nutritive potential and original taste, these products are beginning to spread internationally and, as consequence, analytical procedures to assess nutritional profiles, quality control issues are acquiring increasing relevance. The main objective of this study was to use an advance analytical method and chemometrics tools to determine if the ultra-high temperature (UHT) treatment necessary to extend the shelf life of tiger nut milk would affect the profile of nutrients when compared to fresh product. A cold solvent extraction followed by liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) was used. Datasets obtained from UHT and fresh tiger nut milk data were analyzed through an untargeted metabolomics approach to compare chemical patterns, highlighting differences in citric acid esters of mono- diglycerides (CITREM) and monoacylglycerol (MAG) used as emulsifiers of UHT products, and a remarkably higher abundance of biotin, phosphatidic acid (PA) and L-arginine in fresh products. These results showed that untargeted metabolomics through high resolution tandem mass spectrometry allowed fine differences between food products to be found, therefore, the nutrient lost caused by UHT treatment was clearly discerned.

Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Technicka 3 166 28 Prague 6 Czech Republic

Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Technicka 3 166 28 Prague 6 Czech Republic; Department of Food Quality and Nutrition Research and Innovation Centre Fondazione Edmund Mach Via E Mach 1 San Michele all'Adige Italy

Department of Food Science Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology Avda Agustín Escardino 7 Paterna Valencia Spain

Founder of Món Orxata S L and Chufamix Carrer Picapedrers 10 46120 Alboraia Valencia Spain

Joint Research Unit in Endocrinology Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics The Medical Research Institute Hospital La Fe University of Valencia Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell 106 Torre A 46026 Valencia Spain; Gastrolab Research Group in Food Sciencies Based on the Evidence and Experimentation Institute of Material Science Scientific Park University of Valencia C Catedrático José Beltrán 2 46980 Paterna Spain

Laboratory of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Probiotics Biotechnology Department Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology Avda Agustín Escardino 7 Paterna Valencia Spain

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The Ameliorating Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Liver Steatosis Induced by a High-Fat Methionine Choline-Deficient Diet in Mice