Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Quantification of food bioactives by NIR spectroscopy: Current insights, long-lasting challenges, and future trends

Wenfei Tian, Yonghui Li, Carlos Guzmán, María Itria Ibba, Michael Tilley, Donghai Wang, Zhonghu He

Journal of Food Composition and Analysis · 2023

Read source ↗ All evidence

Summary

This 2023 review examines the state of near-infrared spectroscopy as a non-destructive, rapid analytical technique for quantifying bioactive compounds in foods—including phytochemicals, micronutrients, and other health-relevant constituents. The authors synthesise current applications and methodological frameworks whilst acknowledging persistent challenges in accuracy, standardisation, and model transferability across diverse food matrices. The paper signals future research directions as the field moves towards integrated spectroscopic platforms and machine-learning approaches.

UK applicability

NIR spectroscopy applications reviewed here are relevant to UK food quality assurance, crop breeding programmes, and supply-chain verification of nutrient claims. Adoption of standardised NIR protocols could support nutrient profiling requirements under UK food labelling and health claim regulations.

Key measures

NIR spectroscopy methodology for bioactive compound detection; calibration models; spectral analysis techniques; performance metrics of NIR-based quantification

Outcomes reported

This paper reviews current applications, limitations, and emerging approaches in using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to quantify bioactive compounds in food products. The review synthesises methodological insights and identifies persistent technical and analytical challenges in this measurement domain.

Theme
Measurement & metrics
Subject
Measurement methods & nutrient profiling
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1016/j.jfca.2023.105708
Catalogue ID
SNmp4zkhym-h1bfss

Topic tags

Pulse AI · ask about this record

Dig deeper with Pulse AI.

Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.