2021 Volume 74 Issue 2 Pages 79-91
Vitamin Ks are a generic term of several molecules found in natural and processed foods that play an important role in human health for blood coagulation and bone metabolism. Milk contains a higher proportion of menaquinone-4 (vitamin K2) than phylloquinone (vitamin K1), which is primarily found in vegetable oils. Infant formula contains an optimized ratio of phylloquinone and menaqunone-4 to support infant growth. According to the Food Labelling Act in Japan, the amounts of vitamins must be listed. However, the current standard method for vitamin K needs large amounts of silica gel and organic solvents and requires significant time to purify and separate major and minor constituent vitamin Ks from impurities. In this process, the quantities of silica gel and organic solvents pose environmental hazards. We have developed an analytical procedure for quantification of phylloquinone and menaquinone-4 using catalytic reduction in liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. By focusing on silica gel particle size to reduce the quantity of silica and organic solvent required, this method has become an efficient and eco-friendly analytical procedure for vitamin K. In addition, the method reduces the analytical preparation time required for milk, infant powder formula, liquid infant formula and plant oils.
