The Nutritional Supplement industry is becoming more and more closely regulated. This is apparent from the addition of the Nutritional Supplement monographs to USP, and the rapid appearance of additional methods in the USP Supplements. Methods for oral solutions have also been added to those for capsules and tablets.

We have been determining minerals in supplements for several years, primarily by ICPMS. Over the last few years, we have also increased our capabilities for vitamin analysis. The methods for vitamins analysis in supplements are not always the same as those given in the monographs for the individual materials (for example, injectables). For supplements, many vitamins are determined using liquid chromatography or wet chemical methods. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and beta-carotene are determined using titration and visible spectrophotometry, respectively. The more common B vitamins, thiamine, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and niacin (or niacinamide) are determined using ion pair reverse phase LC in one analysis.

Other reverse-phase LC methods are used for vitamin E, folic acid, pantothenic acid (or calcium pantothenate), phytonadione, and cyanocobalamin (B-12). Normal phase LC methods are used for vitamins A and D.

Listed below are the vitamin analyses conducted at Exova in either raw material, finished product, or in some cases natural products. (Contact us to get the latest update on our testing capabilities)

• Ascorbic acid
• Beta-carotene
• Biotin (h)
• Calcium pantothenate
• Cyanocobalamine (b12)
• Cholcalciferol (d)
• Ergocalciferol (d2)
• Folic acid
• Niacin
• Niacinamide (b3)
• Phytonadione (k1)
• Pyridoxyl-5-phosphate
• Pyridoxine hcl (b6)
• Riboflavin (b2)
• Thiamine hcl (b1)
• Vitamin e (acetate, alcohol, succinate)
• Vitamin a (acetate, palmitate)

Please contact us to find out more about our Vitamin Analysis, USP, GMP capabilities.