biostudies-literatureUnknown31Ren RXuanwei ham (XW) and Jinhua ham (JH), two representative Chinese dry-cured hams, exhibit distinct flavor profiles. This study combined 1H NMR metabolomics and GC-MS to compare their free fatty acid (FFA) compositions and small-molecule metabolites. XW showed higher retention of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and significantly more linoleic acid in subcutaneous fat (+39.29 %, p < 0.05), along with greater oxidative stability. In contrast, JH displayed severe lipid oxidation under high-temperature fermentation, as indicated by a sharp drop in intramuscular PUFA/SFA ratio. NMR revealed higher levels of umami-enhancing metabolites (taurine, glutamate, lysine) in XW. Multivariate analysis confirmed significant metabolic divergence between the hams, highlighting how raw maFood chemistry: X103071https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12509130biostudies-literature1H NMR-based small molecular metabolites characterization and free fatty acid composition of Xuanwei ham and Jinhua ham.PMC12509130Liu JZhou NXun WTan JLiao GTang SWang GDu YLi LRen Rfalse1H NMR-based small molecular metabolites characterization and free fatty acid composition of Xuanwei ham and Jinhua ham.Xuanwei ham (XW) and Jinhua ham (JH), two representative Chinese dry-cured hams, exhibit distinct flavor profiles. This study combined 1H NMR metabolomics and GC-MS to compare their free fatty acid (FFA) compositions and small-molecule metabolites. XW showed higher retention of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and significantly more linoleic acid in subcutaneous fat (+39.29 %, p < 0.05), along with greater oxidative stability. In contrast, JH displayed severe lipid oxidation under high-temperature fermentation, as indicated by a sharp drop in intramuscular PUFA/SFA ratio. NMR revealed higher levels of umami-enhancing metabolites (taurine, glutamate, lysine) in XW. Multivariate analysis confirmed significant metabolic divergence between the hams, highlighting how raw ma2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Oct2026-06-04T10:01:32.617Z2026-05-08T03:10:38.199ZS-EPMC125091304108012410.1016/j.fochx.2025.103071