A method for the analysis of free and total myo-inositol in foods, feeds, and infant formulas has been developed and validated using high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. The option of a free myo-inositol determination or a complete total myo-inositol determination from main bound sources can be achieved. These sources include phytates, lower'phosphorylated forms, and phosphatidylinositol. This approach gives the option for subtraction of myo-inositol from nonbioavailable sources when it is quantified using other methods if a total bioavailable myo-inositol result is desired for nutritional labeling of a product. The free analysis was validated in a milk-based infant formula, giving RSD(R) of 2.29% and RSD, of 2.06%. A mean recovery of 97.9% was achieved from various spike levels of myo-inositol. Certified National Institute of Standards and Technology reference material verified the method's compatibility and specificity. Two different total analyses were validated in a soy-based infant formula and compared. One technique involved using a conventional acid hydrolysis with autoclave incubation for 6 h, while the other used a novel technique of microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis with enzymatic treatment that can minimize extraction to 1 day. The autoclave analysis had RSD(R) of 2.08% and RSDr of 1.55%, along with a mean spike recovery of 102.1% at various myo-inositol spike levels. The microwave/enzyme total analysis had RSD(R) of 4.34% and RSD, of 4.70%, along with a mean spike recovery of 104.2% at various spike levels of myo-inositol. Main sources of myo-inositol including phytic acid and phosphatidylinositol were tested with both total analyses. Mean recoveries of phytic acid and phosphatidylinositol through the autoclave total analysis were 90.4 and 98.3%, respectively. Mean spike recoveries for these same sources in soy- based infant formula through the microwave/enzyme total analysis were 97.2 and 96.3%, respectively. Comparison of soy-based infant formula and corn grain samples with high levels of these main sources showed in similar results, indicating both total analyses are acceptable for use. An additional glycerol kinase step was also developed to remove glycerol from the chromatographic elution window of myoinositol in samples with high levels of glycerol.

After an assessment of data generated from a single-laboratory validation study published in J. AOAC Int. 95, 1469-1478 (2012), a method for determining total myo-inositol in infant formula and adult/ pediatric nutritional formula by high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD), including extraction by using microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis and enzymatic treatment was presented for consideration by AOAC during the AOAC Annual Meeting held in Las Vegas, NV, from September 30 to October 3, 2012. The Expert Review Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals concluded that the method met the criteria set by the standard method performance requirements (SMPRs) for the determination of free myo-inositol and approved the method as AOAC Official First Action. The method also determines total myo-inositol, but includes bound sources that the SMPRs exclude. The method involves using HPAEC-PAD for free myo-inositol and a total myo-inositol determination by two different techniques. The first technique uses the conventional acid hydrolysis with 6 h incubation in an autoclave. The second uses a microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis with enzymatic treatment that decreases the extraction time.