Rapid Analysis of Water-Soluble Vitamins in Peanut Butter using LCMS-2050

Importance of the Topic

Peanut butter is a widely consumed fortified food product rich in water-soluble vitamins that are crucial for health and nutritional rehabilitation. Accurate, rapid, and sensitive quantification of these vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9) ensures reliable quality control and compliance with labeling regulations.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study presents a streamlined analytical workflow for simultaneous determination of water-soluble vitamins in fortified peanut butter using a single quadrupole LC–MS system (Shimadzu LCMS-2050 coupled with LC-2050C). The goal is to reduce sample preparation time while maintaining high sensitivity and accuracy.

Methods

• Sample Preparation: Approx. 1 g peanut butter mixed with water, NaOH and acetic acid, vortexed, centrifuged, filtered and diluted 1:1 with water.
• Chromatography: Shim-pack GIST C18 column (4.6×250 mm, 5 µm); mobile phase A: 20 mM ammonium acetate in water; B: methanol; gradient elution (10→50% B in 14 min); flow rate 1 mL/min; column temperature 40 °C; injection volume 2 µL.

Instrumentation

• Shimadzu LCMS-2050 single quadrupole mass spectrometer with DUIS source (ESI/APCI).
• Shimadzu LC-2050C liquid chromatograph.
• LabSolutions Insight software for data acquisition and processing.
• Shim-pack GIST C18 analytical column.

Key Results and Discussion

• Calibration performance: Linear response for all vitamins with correlation coefficients (R²) ≥ 0.99 and accuracy within 80–120% over 50–300% of label claim.
• Recovery and precision: Spiking experiments showed recoveries between 70% and 120% with RSD < 20%.
• Sensitivity: Limits of detection and quantification well below regulatory requirements.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Rapid, single-run analysis of multiple vitamins covering both high and low polarity compounds.
• Minimal sample preparation reduces labor and turnaround time.
• Compact system footprint and user-friendly software streamline workflows.
• Applicable to quality control in food fortification and nutritional testing.

Future Trends and Applications

• Automation of sample preparation to increase throughput.
• Integration with high-resolution MS for broader nutrient profiling.
• Portable LC-MS platforms for on-site quality assurance.
• Extension to other complex food matrices and fortified products.

Conclusion

The described LC–MS method provides a robust, sensitive, and efficient approach for quantifying water-soluble vitamins in fortified peanut butter. The simplified extraction and reliable performance support its adoption in quality control and regulatory laboratories.

References

1. Ayano Kakitani et al. Simultaneous determination of water-soluble vitamins in beverages and dietary supplements by LC–MS/MS. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 2014, 31(12):1939–1948.
2. Nitin Shukla et al. Quantitative analysis of vitamin B complex in dietary supplement powder by LC–MS/MS. 2023.