RESUMEN
A method using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection was developed for monitoring the alpha-dicarbonyl compound profiles generated from nonenzymatic browning using o-phenylenediamine (OPD) as a trapping agent. The alpha-dicarbonyl compounds were generated by the "dry" reaction of sodium caseinate and lactose heated at various relative humidities (RHs). The proportions of alpha-dicarbonyls formed were different for samples heated at low, intermediate, and high RHs. This study shows that relatively large amounts of 3-deoxypentosulose and galactosyl 2-pentosulose are produced under high RHs, while galactosyl hexosulose and 1,4-dideoxyhexosulose are elevated under low RH conditions. Both caramelization and Maillard reaction pathways contributed to the generation of alpha-dicarbonyls.