Fast and Easy Simultaneous Determination of Riboflavin, Folic Acid, All-Trans-Retinol and α-Tocopherol in Human Serum by LC/MS/MS for Bariatric Patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop and validate methods for the determination of vitamins B2, B9, E and A in serum using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (MS) detection. Vitamin analysis was performed using an ultra performance liquid chromatography combined with tandem MS. The compounds were separated on a BEH C18 RP column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) using a gradient elution with an analysis time of 10 min. Sample preparation included protein precipitation with ethanol. The concentration range in human serum was as follows: riboflavin 5–1000 nmol/L, folic acid 2.5–250 nmol/L, α-tocopherol 0.5–100 μmol/L and all-trans-retinol 25–2500 nmol/L. Accuracy and precision were validated according to Food and Drug Administration guidelines, with coefficients of variation ranging from 3.1–11.7% and recoveries from 94.4–107.5%. Routine monitoring of the complex range of vitamins in bariatric medicine is still not common. This is despite the fact that patients are at risk for glitch deficits, especially of a neurological nature. An analytical method that allows for the complex measurement of both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins is important and necessary for the clinical monitoring of bariatric patients. The method we have described could benefit both clinical practice and nutritional research.