Fast and Specific Screening of EPA/DHA-Enriched Phospholipids in Fish Oil Extracted from Different Species by HILIC–MS

Eicosapentaenoic acid- and docosahexaenoic acid-enriched phospholipids (PLEPA/DHA) have versatile health-beneficial functions and can be well absorbed in the intestine. Herein, a precursor ion scan-driven hydrophilic interaction chromatography mass spectrometry (PreIS–HILIC–MS) method with the fatty acyl moieties of m/z 301.6 and 327.6 locked was established to specifically and selectively screen PLEPA/DHA in different fish oil samples, including saury, grass carp, hairtail, and yellow croaker. Taking saury oil as an example, a total of 24 PLEPA/DHA were successfully identified and quantified, including 20 PCEPA/DHA and 4 PEEPA/DHA. Finally, this method was validated in terms of sensitivity (limit of detection ≤ 4.15 μg·mL–1), linearity (≥0.9979), precision (RSDintraday ≤ 4.65%), and recovery (≥78.6%). The performance of the PreIS–HILIC–MS method was also compared with that of the traditional full-scan mode, and the former demonstrated its unique superiority in targeted screening of PLEPA/DHA in fish oils.