Determination of liposoluble vitamins in cooked meals, milk and milk products by liquid chromatography

A method for the simultaneous determination of liposoluble vitamins in cooked meals was established. Saponification was performed with 50% (w/v) KOH at 80 degrees C, and ascorbic acid was added as antioxidant. The subsequent extraction was carried out with diethyl ether. This was followed by a liquid chromatographic separation on a reversed-phase C18 column with methanol-water (94:6, v/v as the mobile phase. Retinyl acetate was used as the internal standard. The analytical parameters linearity, detection limit (0.19 and 8.33 microg/100 g for retinol and alpha-tocopherol, respectively), precision of the method (RSD=5.24 and 6.99% for retinol and alpha-tocopherol, respectively) and recovery assays (95.6 and 96.5% for retinol and alpha-tocopherol, respectively) show that the method studied is useful for measuring these compounds in foods and cooked meals.     

Determination of vitamins A and E in serum and plasma using a simplified clarification method and high-performance liquid chromatography

A method of sample clarification and high-performance liquid chromatography specifically developed to permit precise and rapid determination of vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) in serum and plasma is reported. Serum proteins were denatured by the addition of acetonitrile containing alpha-tocopherol acetate, the internal standard; the vitamins were subsequently extracted into an organic matrix consisting of ethyl acetate-butanol (1:1); no solvent evaporation step was required. The three vitamins of interest were eluted from a reversed-phase C18 column with an isocratic mobile phase methanol-water (95:5); detection was accomplished by measuring ultraviolet absorption at 280 nm. Recoveries of retinol, alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol acetate from spiked aqueous samples averaged 100.0, 100.0 and 98.8%, respectively. Recoveries of retinol, alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol acetate from plasma and serum relative to water were 102.6, 96.9 and 96.5%, respectively. Retinol and alpha-tocopherol were stable in the extraction matrix for up to 3.5 h, and were stable in heparinized plasma stored at room temperature for two days. Oxalate, citrate and EDTA caused significant losses of retinol and alpha-tocopherol, while vitamin levels in serum and heparinized plasma were similar. Limits of detection for retinol and alpha-tocopherol were 60 ng/ml and 0.9 micrograms/ml, respectively. Each run required 12 min. Same-day coefficients of variation were 3.5 and 3.6% for retinol and alpha-tocopherol, respectively (n = 11). Between-day coefficients of variation for retinol and alpha-tocopherol were 4.8 and 5.5%, respectively (n = 5). This method permits simple, rapid, sensitive, selective and precise determination of retinol and alpha-tocopherol using 0.5 ml of serum or heparinized plasma.     

Rapid determination by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of Vitamins A and E in infant formulas

A rapid, sensitive method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of retinol acetate, delta-, gamma-, alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol acetate. We compare two experimental procedures for simultaneous direct solvent extraction of these vitamins without previous saponification. Method I: the fat milk sample was extracted with ethanol-hexane and injected directly into the chromatographic column. Method II: the power milk sample was extracted with ethanol-hexane and also injected directly into the column. Under optimum conditions the limits of detection for retinol acetate, delta-, gamma-, alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol acetate were 0.33, 21.2, 32.9, 32.5 and 3.2 ng and the limits of quantification were 0.42, 25.3, 37.9, 36.8 and 6.3 ng, respectively. The precision results showed that the relative standard deviations of repeatability and reproducibility were between 0.74 and 5.7%.     

Development of a simplified method for the simultaneous determination of retinol, α-tocopherol,and β-carotene in serum by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

A new and simple method for the determination of fat-soluble vitamins (retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene) in human serum was developed and validated by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC-APCI-MS-MS). Different solvent mixtures were tested to obtain deproteinization and extraction of the analytes from the matrix. As a result, a volume of 240 microL of a 1:1 (v/v) ethanol/ethyl acetate mixture added to 60 microL of serum was found to be suitable for both protein precipitation and antioxidants solubilization, giving the best recovery for all three analytes. Deproteinized samples (20 microL) were injected after dilution, without the need for concentration or evaporation to dryness and reconstruction of the sample. Vitamins were separated on a C-8 column using a 95:5 (v/v) methanol/dichloromethane mixture and ionized in the positive-ion mode; detection was performed in the selected-reaction monitoring mode. Linearity of the LC-APCI-MS-MS method was established over 5 orders of magnitude for retinol and alpha-tocopherol, whereas in the case of beta-carotene it was limited to 4 orders. Lower limits of quantitation were 1.7, 2.3, and 4.1 nM for retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene, respectively. Serum concentrations of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and alpha+beta-carotene determined in a group of healthy volunteers were 2.48, 38.07, and 0.50 microM, respectively, in samples collected in winter ( n=122) and 2.69, 45.88, and 0.90 microM during summer ( n=66).     

An isocratic liquid chromatographic method with diode-array detection for the simultaneous determination of alpha-tocopherol, retinol, and five carotenoids in human serum

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of alpha-tocopherol, retinol, and five carotenoids (lutein-zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and alpha- and beta-carotene) in human serum is described. Serum samples are deproteinized with ethanol and extracted once with n-hexane. Resulting extracts are injected onto a C18 reversed-phase column eluted with methanol-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran (75:20:5, v/v/v), and full elution of all the analytes is realized isocratically within 20 min. The detection is operated using three channels of a diode-array spectrophotometer at 290, 325, and 450 nm for tocopherol, retinol, and the carotenoids, respectively. An internal standard is used for each channel, which improves precision. The choice of internal standards is discussed, as well as the extraction protocol and the need for adding an antioxidant during the extraction and chromatographic steps. The analytical recoveries for liposoluble vitamins and carotenoids are more than 85%. Intra-assay relative standard deviation (RSD) values (n = 20) for measured concentrations in serum range from 3.3% (retinol) to 9.5% (lycopene), and interassay RSDs (n = 5) range from 3.8% (alpha-tocopherol) to 13.7% (beta-cryptoxanthin). The present method is used to quantitate the cited vitamins in healthy subjects (n = 168) from ages 9 to 55 years old.     

In Process Citation

The separation, identification and determination of the fat- and water-soluble vitamins are realized by partition chromatography with a reversed-phase system made by bonding a C(18) group to silica. The water-soluble vitamins are directly separated with the mobile phase 1% acetic acid/acetonitrile (89:11 v/v) and are revealed by an ultraviolet detector, except for pantothenic acid. The separation efficiency and precision of determination of the fat-soluble vitamins depend on the operational conditions. The composition of the excipients and all the constituents of pharmaceuticals (aqueous and oil solutions, injections, dispersions, emulsions) determine the choice of the extraction solvents and the preparation of the solution to be injected; the polarity of the mobile phase (acetonitrile/water 95:5 v/v) can be changed, and the choice depends on the components to be separated. The experimental conditions are specified and some examples are given of application of HPLC to determination of water-soluble vitamins (B1, B2, C, PP, B6) and fat-soluble vitamins (non-saponifiable oils, vitamin A and its esters, cholecalciferol, ergocalciferol, and tocopherol and its acetate) in multivitamin formulations (solutions, suspensions, syrups, fatty excipients etc.).     

Application of ACC method to synchronous luminiscence: determination of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in beverages

A new method based on the Q parameter, that permits the determination of the C(compound A)/C(compound B) ratio without preparing calibration graphs of the two compounds, is proposed. This method has been applied to signals obtained by synchronous luminiscence. Simultaneous determination of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in beverages using synchronous fluorescence has been carried out. To isolate the compounds from samples, liquid extraction with n-hexane as the organic phase was employed. The presence of interferences was tested using the apparent content curves (ACC) method and the C(alpha-tocopherol)/C(alpha-tocopheryl acetate) ratio was calculated using the Q parameter. The reproducibility and detection limit for the determination of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate were 6.6% and 0.016 mg/L and 1.8% and 0.017 mg/L, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of retinol, alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene in serum by isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography.

A simultaneous determination of retinol, alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography is described. Total analysis time is 13 min. A reversed-phase (Ultrasphere ODS, 5 microns) column is used with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol-dichloromethane (70:10:20, v/v/v) and a flow-rate of 1.2 ml/min. Retinol is monitored at 325 nm, alpha-tocopherol at 292 nm and beta-carotene at 450 nm. Serum is deproteinized with ethanol containing the internal standard (alpha-tocopherol acetate), then extracted with hexane. The evaporated organic layer is reconstituted with the mobile phase and injected. The choice of the eluent is discussed, as well as the choice of an internal standard and the need for an antioxidant during the extraction step. Sixteen different eluents are compared in terms of analysis time and selectivity. The linear concentration ranges (retinol 0.016-13.7 microM, alpha-tocopherol 0.18-91.8 microM, beta-carotene 0.05-5.75 microM), within-run coefficients of variation (retinol less than 7%; alpha-tocopherol less than 8%, beta-carotene less than 7%), between-run coefficients of variation (retinol less than 13%, alpha-tocopherol less than 9%, beta-carotene less than 8%) and recoveries (retinol greater than 95%, alpha-tocopherol greater than 91%, beta-carotene greater than 80%) are suitable for clinical investigations. Serum reference values were found to be 2.47 +/- 0.61 microM (retinol), 30.5 +/- 6.8 microM (alpha-tocopherol) and 0.91 +/- 0.55 microM (beta-carotene). A significant difference (p less than 0.001) between males and females was found for retinol.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of tocopherols in infant formulas

A method for the simultaneous determination of alpha-tocopherol acetate and alpha-, delta-, and gamma-tocopherols by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fluorescent detector in infant formula is proposed. The values obtained in the determination of the analytical parameters: linearity, precision, limit of detection and accuracy (analysis of a standard reference material, SRM 1846), confirm the quality of the method. The proposed method is useful for the determination of alpha-, delta-, and gamma-tocopherols and alpha-tocopherol acetate in infant formulas at a low cost and in a total time of 2 h.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for routine determination of vitamins A and E and beta-carotene in plasma.

A simple and reliable reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the routine determination of vitamins A and E and beta-carotene in plasma (or serum) with wavelength-programmed ultraviolet-visible absorbance detection is described. A 200-microliters aliquot of serum or plasma sample, after deproteinization with ethanol, and containing tocopherol acetate as internal standard, was extracted with butanol-ethyl acetate. Sodium sulphate was added for dehydration. Analytes of extracted samples were found to be stable for at least four days. A 10-microliters aliquot of this organic extract was used for HPLC analysis. The mobile phase was methanol-butanol-water (89.5:5:5.5, v/v) and the flow-rate was set at 1.5 ml/min. The analytes of interest were well separated from other plasma constituents within 22 min at 45 degrees C. The lowest detection limits of vitamins A and E and beta-carotene were 0.02, 0.5 and 0.1 microgram/ml, respectively. The recovery and reproducibility of the present method were around 90%. The method is sensitive, specific and can be used for epidemiological studies and for routine determination of vitamin deficiency. Several important factors that may affect the analysis are also discussed in this paper.     

Determination of vitamins A (retinol) and E (alpha-tocopherol) in foods by liquid chromatography: collaborative study

A collaborative study was conducted for the determination of vitamins A and E. Existing AOAC liquid chromatographic (LC) methods are suited for specific vitamins A and E analytical applications. This method differs from existing methods in that it can be used to assay samples in all 9 sectors of the food matrix. Standards and test samples are saponified in basic ethanol-water solution, neutralized, and diluted, converting fats to fatty acids and retinol esters and tocopherol esters to retinol and tocopherol, respectively. Retinol and alpha-tocopherol are quantitated on separate LC systems, using UV detection at 313 or 328 nm for retinol, and fluorescence detection (excitation 290 nm, emission 330 nm) for alpha-tocopherol. Vitamin concentrations are calculated by comparison of the peak heights or peak areas of vitamins in test samples with those of standards.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of carotenoids and vitamins A and E in multivitamin tablets

Carotenoids and vitamins A and E in multivitamin tablets can be determined simultaneously by reversed-phased liquid chromatography (LC) with a programmable UV detector. Samples were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and then extracted with hexane. A portion was injected onto a Symmetry C18, 150 x 4.6 mm id, 5 microns column and chromatographed with a mobile phase of acetonitrile--0.25% ammonium acetate in methanol and 0.05% triethylamine in dichloromethane. A step gradient was used. The system was operated at 25 degrees C with a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. UV detection was at 325 nm for retinols, 285 nm for tocopherols, and 450 nm for carotenoids. Detection limits were less than 0.3 ng for retinol and retinyl acetate; 2 ng for alpha-tocopherol acid succinate; 10 ng for alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, and alpha-tocopherol acetate; and 0.4 ng for alpha-carotene and beta-carotene. Intraday and interday coefficients of variation ranged from 1.40 to 5.20%. The sample preparation method and LC assay are practical for quality control and routine analysis of multivitamin tablets.     

超高效合相色谱法快速测定保健食品中10种脂溶性维生素

脂溶性维生素作为保健食品重要的功效指标,现有的标准方法存在测定组分少、样品前处理过程复杂、对人员操作能力要求较高等问题,因此建立一种快速、简便、准确,且能同时检测多种常见脂溶性维生素的方法具有重要的现实意义。该研究采用超高效合相色谱(UPC²)建立了同时测定保健食品中维生素A棕榈酸酯、维生素A醋酸酯、维生素E醋酸酯、维生素K₁、α-生育酚、β-生育酚、γ-生育酚、δ-生育酚、维生素D₂、维生素D₃等10种常用脂溶性维生素的方法。样品经含75%二甲基亚砜(DMSO)的水溶液在45 ℃水浴超声15 min破乳,再加入正己烷振摇提取90 min, 3000 r/min离心10 min,取上清液过滤后进行分析。使用LC-Simulator软件对色谱条件进行模拟及优化,选用ACQUITY UPC² Viridis HSS C18 SB色谱柱进行分离,CO₂和乙腈-甲醇(85∶15, v/v)为流动相,梯度洗脱,流速1.9 mL/min,柱温30 ℃,选取10种脂溶性维生素各自的最大吸收波长检测,外标法进行定量。结果表明,10种脂溶性维生素在各自范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(r)均大于0.9997,检出限(LOD)和定量限(LOQ)分别为片剂:0.2~30 μg/g和0.8~75 μg/g,胶囊:0.4~60 μg/g和2~150 μg/g,样品平均加标回收率在96.5%~113.9%之间,RSD均小于4%,精密度、稳定性、重复性测定结果的RSD值也均小于2%。经比较,该方法测定结果与现有的国家食品安全标准基本一致,但该方法简单、快速、灵敏、准确,可满足保健食品中10种脂溶性维生素的检测要求,为保健食品中脂溶性维生素的快速同时检测奠定基础。     

Simultaneous determination of fat-soluble vitamins and provitamins in dairy products by liquid chromatography with a narrow-bore column

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determination of vitamins A, D2, D3, E and K1, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, tocopherol acetate, ergosterol and 7-dehydrocholesterol in milk and butter. Narrow-bore columns are recommended because this alternative provides a good separation and efficiency, plus greater economy and sensitivity. Detection limits for individual vitamins range from 0.14 to 6.9 ng. All vitamins are separated in less than 33 min. For the simultaneous determination of these vitamins and provitamins we use two sample pre-treatment methods, a liquid-liquid extraction with hexane or a solid-phase extraction with a C18 cartridge. Recovery studies show good results for all solutes (84-108% and 85-108% for milk and butter, respectively) and the intra-day coefficients of variations range from 1.6 to 4.5%. These methods permit the simple determination of fat-soluble vitamins using a small sample volume.     

Development and validation of HPLC method for the determination of α-tocopherol in human erythrocytes for clinical applications

In this work, a simple isocratic reversed-phase HPLC method for determination of alpha-tocopherol in human erythrocytes has been developed and validated. After separation of plasma the erythrocytes were washed three times with 0.9% sodium chloride containing 0.01% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as antioxidant and then were diluted 1:1 (v/v) with the same solution. In the liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) procedure, 2500 microL of n-hexane was added to 500 microL of erythrocytes. After 2 min this mixture was deproteinized by addition of cool ethanol (500 microL, 5 min) denatured with 5% methanol containing alpha-tocopherol acetate (20 micromol L(-1)), as internal standard, and then extracted for 5 min by vortex mixing. After centrifugation (10 min, 1600xg) an aliquot (2000 microL) of the clean extract was separated and evaporated under nitrogen. The residue was dissolved in 400 microL methanol and analysed by reversed-phase HPLC on a 4.6 mmx150 mm, 5 microm Pecosphere C18 column; the mobile phase was 100% methanol, flow rate 1.2 mL min(-1). The volume injected was 100 microL and detection was by diode-array detector at a wavelength of 295 nm. The extraction recovery of alpha-tocopherol from human erythrocytes was 100.0+/-2.0%. The detection limit was 0.1 micromol L(-1) and a linear calibration plot was obtained in the concentration range 0.5-20.0 micromol L(-1). Within determination precision was 5.2% RSD (n=10), between determination precision was 6.1% RSD (n=10). The method was applied successfully in a clinical study of patients with acute pancreatitis and for determination of the reference values in the healthy Czech population.     

Determination of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol acetate in diets of experimental animals. Study of stability in the diets.

A simple method is described which permits, avoiding saponification, alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate measurement in semi-synthetic diets for experimental animals by HPLC, with both UV and fluorescence detection. Phenyldodecane was chosen as internal standard with remarkable performances, and EDTA and BHT were added to prevent oxidation in aqueous and non-aqueous phases respectively. The mobile phase was methanol-water (94:6 v/v) at a flow-rate of 2 ml/min. Samples were homogenized and extracted twice with n-hexane by probe sonication. Extracts were evaporated to dryness and redissolved with chloroform-methanol (1:1, v/v). Validation parameters were studied between 25 ng and 6 micrograms for alpha-tocopherol and between 3 and 24.2 micrograms for alpha-tocopheryl acetate, which corresponds to the range of values in the existing diets. Results had correlation coefficients > 0.99; recoveries > 85%; R.S.D. < 6%, so the method is adequate to control vitamin E intake in animals as well as vitamin E stability in food during storage.     

A liquid chromatographic method for analysis of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and retinyl palmitate in medical food using matrix solid-phase dispersion in conjunction with a zero reference material as a method development tool

A liquid chromatographic method is described for analysis of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and retinyl palmitate in medical food. The vitamins are extracted from medical food without saponification by matrix solid-phase dispersion and chromatographed by normal-phase chromatography with fluorescence detection. Retinyl palmitate and all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate are quantitated isocratically with a mobile phase of 0.125% (v/v) and 0.5% (v/v) isopropyl alcohol in hexane, respectively. Results compared favorably with label declarations on retail medical foods. Recoveries determined on an analyte-fortified zero reference material for a milk-based medical food averaged 98.3% (n = 25) for retinyl palmitate spikes and 95.7% (n = 25) for all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate spikes. Five concentrations were examined for each analyte, and results were linear (r2 = 0.995 for retinyl palmitate and 0.9998 for all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) over the concentration range examined, with coefficients of variation in the range 0.81-4.22%. The method provides a rapid, specific, and easily controlled assay for analysis of retinyl palmitate and all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate in fortified medical foods.     

Simultaneous determination of retinol and alpha-tocopherol in polymeric diets for enteral nutrition

Existing methods for simultaneous measurements of retinol and alpha-tocopherol in enteral formulas require large sample and solvent volumes and are time-consuming and costly. We have developed a simple, sensitive, cost-effective method for the determination of these vitamins in polymeric diets that can easily be applied to standard quality control of large numbers of samples. Our analytical procedure comprises deproteinization with pure ethanol, saponification with a 3.6M KOH solution in a sonicator for 30min at 65 degrees C under a nitrogen atmosphere, solubilization of samples in phosphate buffer and extraction with hexane. Vitamins are separated by reversed-phase HPLC and quantified by dual-wavelength spectrophotometry. The method gives satisfactory results, with recovery rates of 106.3+/-1.5% for retinol and 102.3+/-1.5% for alpha-tocopherol and RSDs ranging between 1.2 and 4.8% for precision. This method is suitable for the quality control of enteral formulas.     

Determination of eight water- and fat-soluble vitamins in multi-vitamin pharmaceutical formulations by high-performance liquid chromatography

In the present work, a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure has been developed for the determination of water-soluble vitamins (thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, nicotinamide, riboflavin phosphoric ester and cyanocobalamine) and fat-soluble vitamins (retinol palmitate, cholecalciferol, -tocopherol acetate) in multi-vitamin pharmaceutical formulations. The sample treatment proposed consists of a solid-phase extraction with C₁₈ AR cartridges that allow the separation of fat-soluble vitamins, which were retained on the sorbent, from water-soluble vitamins. Afterwards, the water-soluble vitamins were analysed by HPLC on a Nova-Pack C₁₈ (150×3.9 mm, 4 μm) analytical column, using CH₃OH–0.05 M CH₃COONH₄ as mobile phase The chromatographic analysis of the fat-soluble vitamins was carried out after their sequential elution with methanol and chloroform from C₁₈ sorbent, on the above column. The mobile phase employed was MeOH–CH₃CN (95:5, v/v) working at a flow-rate of 2 ml min⁻¹ in isocratic mode. The solid-phase extraction for these vitamins had been previously optimised. The experimental variables studied were: application volume, elution solvents and cleaning solutions. The UV–Vis detection of vitamins was made at 270 nm for all the water-soluble vitamins (362 nm for B₁₂) and 285 nm for the water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins present in real samples at different concentration levels. The accuracy of the method was tested obtaining an average recovery ranging between 78 and 116%.     

Analysis of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and retinyl palmitate in medical foods using a zero control reference material (ZRM) as a method development tool

A liquid chromatographic method is described for analysis of all- rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and retinyl palmitate in medical food. The vitamins are extracted in isopropyl alcohol and hexane-ethyl acetate without saponification and quantitated by normal-phase chromatography with fluorescence detection. All rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and retinyl palmitate are chromatographed isocratically with a mobile phase of 0.5% (v/v) and 0.125% (v/v) isopropyl alcohol in hexane, respectively. Recovery studies performed on a medical food zero control reference material (ZRM) fortified with the analytes averaged 99.7% (n = 25) for retinyl palmitate and 101% (n = 25) for all- rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. Coefficients of variation were 0.87-2.63% for retinyl palmitate and 1.42-3.20% for all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. The method provides a rapid, specific, and easily controlled assay for analysis of vitamin A and vitamin E in medical foods. Use of chlorinated solvents is avoided.