Determination of Cholecalciferol Levels in Cod Liver Oil using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Mild Saponification and Reversed Phase Cleanup Procedure

Abstract

The level of cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) of various cods caught off the coast of Nova Scotia. Halifax, Canada were analysed using normal silica phase High performance liquid Chromatography with a mild saponification and reversed-phase clean-up procedure. The values of vitamin D3 content of the various cod liver oils obtained ranged from 0.26 – 2.31 mg/g of cod liver oil; an observation which has been reported earlier. The recovery accuracy of vitamin D3 added to cod liver oil was investigated and it was satisfactory over the range studied with a mean of 93.00 ± 4.73. The low levels of D3 in cod liver oils were noted but it was believed to be a normal characteristic of cod liver oils. The mild saponification process followed by the reversed-phase clean-up procedure and analysis of the unsaponifiable matter on two HPLC columns is a rapid and reliable method for the analysis of cholecalciferol in marine and vegetable oils.

Journal of Aquatic Sciences Volume 15, April 2000, pp. 12-14



KEY WORDS:

Cholecalciferol, saponification, ergocalciferol.