HPLC determination of vitamin A and vitamin D2 in South Pacific root crops

Abstract

AbstractAn HPLC method was developed for the analysis of α‐carotene, β‐carotene, retinol and vitamin D2. Sweet potato Ipomoea batatas, taro Colocasia esculenta, taro Xanthosoma sagittifolium, giant taro Alocasia macrorrhiza, giant swamp taro Cyrtosperma chamissonis, yam Dioscorea alata and yam D esculenta contained no appreciable amounts of α‐carotene, retinol or vitamin D2 and the amounts of β‐carotene were equivalent to 0‐300 μg kg‐1 retinol in the fresh samples. This small amount, compared with the WHO/FAO adult RDA of 750 μg day‐1, and the virtual absence of vitamin A related eye diseases in the South Pacific region, demonstrates the adequacy of greens and fiuits, and fish coastal areas, in meeting the vitamin A requirement.