Analysis of Vitamins

Importance of the Topic

Fat-soluble vitamins such as A, E and K play critical roles in human health and require accurate quantification in pharmaceutical, nutritional and quality control laboratories.

Objectives and Study Overview

The goal is to establish a micro- and capillary-flow LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous analysis of seven fat-soluble vitamins with high sensitivity and throughput.

Methodology

• Column: Shim-pack MC PLONAS C8, 100 mm × 0.2 mm I.D., 2.7 μm.
• Mobile phase: A – aqueous ammonium acetate; B – ammonium acetate in methanol; gradient elution.
• Flow rate: 4 μL/min; column temperature: 50 °C; injection volume: 0.2 μL.

Instruments Used

• LCMS-8060 mass spectrometer with micro-ESI source (negative ion mode).
• Shimadzu micro LC system configured for capillary flow.

Main Results and Discussion

Seven analytes—including all-trans retinol, α-tocopherol, phylloquinone and various menaquinone derivatives—were baseline resolved with excellent peak shape under microflow conditions.

The method demonstrated high sensitivity, reproducible retention times and minimal solvent consumption, confirming suitability for trace-level vitamin analysis.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Enhanced sensitivity due to low flow rates and reduced ion suppression.
• Lower solvent usage and waste generation align with green chemistry principles.
• Small sample volumes support analyses where material is limited.
• Applicable to food, supplement and pharmaceutical quality control.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advances may include integration with high-resolution mass spectrometry for broader vitamin profiling, automated sample preparation, and further miniaturization for point-of-care testing.

Conclusion

This microflow LC-MS/MS approach delivers a rapid, sensitive and efficient platform for simultaneous quantification of fat-soluble vitamins, enabling robust analysis in diverse research and QA/QC settings.