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Simultaneous determination of the vitamins A, E, their esters and coenzyme Q10 in multivitamin dietary supplements using an RP-C30 phase

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Abstract

A sensitive RP-HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of the fat-soluble vitamins A, A-acetate, A-palmitate, E, E-acetate and coenzyme Q10 in multivitamin dietary supplements using a C30 phase. Because of the dual-wavelength detection applied, it was possible to monitor vitamins and additionally carotenoids in one run. For identification of vitamins, mass spectra were recorded using LC-(APcI)MS. The vitamins were extracted from 10 commercial dietary supplements (seven soft gel capsules, three tablets) and quantified on the basis of extern calibration graphs. Method performance was studied by addition of vitamin-A- and -E-acetate to a blank matrix: recoveries ranged from 95.7 to 97.8%. On the basis of the amounts labeled, only two products contained substantially lower concentrations of vitamin A-acetate (34% and 46%, respectively). All other concentrations varied between 98% and 245% with respect to vitamin labeling. One product contained vitamin E as alcohol, all other formulations esterified forms of vitamins A and/or E. The presented method may be used by quality assurance laboratories for routine control of nutritional labels.

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Acknowledgment

Special thanks go to Professor Dr. W. Schwack, University of Hohenheim, for the excellent working conditions at the Institute of Food Chemistry.

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Correspondence to Dietmar E. Breithaupt.

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Breithaupt, D.E., Kraut, S. Simultaneous determination of the vitamins A, E, their esters and coenzyme Q10 in multivitamin dietary supplements using an RP-C30 phase. Eur Food Res Technol 222, 643–649 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-005-0195-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-005-0195-7

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