Rapid determination of L‐ascorbic acid content in vitamin C serums by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

• DOI: 10.1111/ics.12762
• Publication Date: 2022-01-06T00:38:50Z
• Authors: Jessica Santos Pizzo; Victor Hugo Maldo...; Carina Alexandra ...; Luciana Pelissari...; Lorena Visentainer; Oscar Oliveira Sa...; Liane Maldaner; Jesuí Vergilio Vi...
• Keywords: Limit of Detection; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Ascorbic Acid; 01 natural sciences; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; 0104 chemical sciences

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and validate a rapid, simple, accurate and precise analytical method for the quantification of L‐AA in vitamin C serums. Moreover, the developed method was further applied to determine L‐AA in eight different brands of vitamin C serums. A complementary study was also carried out to evaluate the stability of L‐AA in the vitamin C serum samples after 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of storage at ambient temperature (15–35°C).MethodsUltra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was applied.ResultsQuantitative analyses were performed with a total chromatographic run time of 1.5 min by matrix‐matched calibration, and the analytical curve was linear over the range of 1–1700 µg L−1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.3 and 1.0 µg L−1, respectively. Intra‐ and inter‐assay precisions, expressed in terms of relative standard deviation, ranged from 0.3% and 2.2%, respectively, and recoveries in concentration levels of 1 and 5 µg L−1 were 103.9% and 101.2%, respectively. The proposed analytical method was successfully applied to determine the L‐AA content in eight commercial vitamin C serum samples. The stability of the target analyte in samples stored at ambient temperature (15–35°C) was evaluated throughout 60 days with a 15‐day interval between analyses. At 0 days, L‐AA content in samples ranged from 1.05 to 169.91 mg L−1, which decreases over time.ConclusionThe proposed method could be powerful in routine analyses to ensure the quantification of L‐AA in vitamin C serums since it proved to be a simple, reliable, fast, precise, accurate and sensitive analytical method.