Investigation of isotope dilution mass spectrometric (ID-MS) method to determine niacin in infant formula, breakfast cereals and multivitamins

An isotope dilution LC/mass spectrometric (ID-LC/MS) method was developed as a candidate reference method for the accurate determination of niacin in infant formula, breakfast cereals and multivitamin. After spiking nicotinamide-d4 as an internal standard, infant formula and breakfast cereal samples were hydrolysed under alkaline condition. Samples were then analysed in SRM mode to detect nicotinic acid and nicotinic acid-d4 at m/z 124 → 80 and 127 → 84, respectively. In the case of multivitamin sample that contains mainly free nicotinamide, LC/MS monitored nicotinamide and nicotinamide-d4 at their SRM channels of m/z 123 → 80 and m/z 127 → 84, respectively, after simple extraction. The repeatability and reproducibility were tested for the validation of the developed ID/LC–MS method. Additionally, the developed analytical method was applied to determine total niacin contents in homogenised infant formula, homogenised multivitamin, and commercially available products including different types of infant formula, breakfast cereals, and multivitamin tablets.