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Quantitative Determination of Total L-Carnitine in Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula, and Raw Materials by Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

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Abstract

We developed a rapid and useful routine screening assay for total l-carnitine content in various infant formulas and materials by liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS) and alkaline hydrolysis. For separation of l-carnitine, a multi-mode octadecylsilane (ODS) column was used that contained ODS ligands, anion ligands, and cation ligands to avoid using ion-pairing agents. The stable isotope l-carnitine-d3 (m/z 165 → 103/85) was used in electrospray MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode with the ion transitions of m/z 162 → 103/85 for detection and quantitation of l-carnitine. Alkaline hydrolysis of short/medium chain (C2 – C15) acyl-l-carnitines in infant formula was analyzed by LC with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS). The majority of short/medium chain acyl-l-carnitines were hydrolyzed to free l-carnitine. The overall standard deviations for l-carnitine in infant formula, follow-up formula and raw materials ranged from 2.1 to 4.0. The overall mean recoveries ranged from 90.2 to 94.2%.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infant Milk and Analytical Technology, Research and Development Center, Wakodo Co., Ltd., 2-2 Wakaba, 182-0003, Chofu, Tokyo, Japan

    Isao Nadaoka, Emi Hatakeyama, Shinichi Fukaya, Takashi Akiba & Yutaka Yamano

  2. Laboratory of Analytical and Bio-Analytical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, 422-8526, Suruga, Shizuoka, Japan

    Chihiro Tanada, Tasuku Sakamoto, Koichi Inoue & Toshimasa Toyo’oka

Authors
  1. Isao Nadaoka
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  2. Emi Hatakeyama
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  3. Chihiro Tanada
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  4. Tasuku Sakamoto
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  5. Shinichi Fukaya
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  6. Takashi Akiba
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  7. Koichi Inoue
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  8. Yutaka Yamano
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  9. Toshimasa Toyo’oka
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Correspondence to Isao Nadaoka.

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Nadaoka, I., Hatakeyama, E., Tanada, C. et al. Quantitative Determination of Total L-Carnitine in Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula, and Raw Materials by Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry. ANAL. SCI. 30, 839–844 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2116/analsci.30.839

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2116/analsci.30.839

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