Determination of retinol and retinyl esters in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with automated column switching and ultraviolet detection

Vitamin A Update: Forms, Sources, Kinetics, Detection, Function, Deficiency, Therapeutic Use and Toxicity

Vitamin A is a group of vital micronutrients widely present in the human diet. Animal-based products are a rich source of the retinyl ester form of the vitamin, while vegetables and fruits contain carotenoids, most of which are provitamin A. Vitamin A plays a key role in the correct functioning of multiple physiological functions. The human organism can metabolize natural forms of vitamin A and provitamin A into biologically active forms (retinol, retinal, retinoic acid), which interact with multiple molecular targets, including nuclear receptors, opsin in the retina and, according to the latest research, also some enzymes. In this review, we aim to provide a complex view on the present knowledge about vitamin A ranging from its sources through its physiological functions to consequences of its deficiency and metabolic fate up to possible pharmacological administration and potential toxicity. Current analytical methods used for its detection in real samples are included as well.

Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin is chemically named as: (2Z, 4E, 6E, 8E)-3,7-Dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enyl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraenoic acid. It is an orally active retinoic acid derivative for the treatment of severe refractory nodulocystic acne. It acts primarily by reducing sebaceous gland size and sebum production, and as a result alters skin surface lipid composition. Using isotretinoin for 1-2mg/kg/day for 3-4 months produces 60%-95% clearance of inflammatory lesions in patients with acne. Doses as low as 0.1mg/kg/day have also proven successful in the clearance of lesions. Encouraging results have also been seen in small numbers of patients with rosacea, Side effects affecting the mucocutaneous system and raised serum triglyceride levels occur in most patients receiving isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is strictly contraindicated in women of childbearing potential. This profile discusses and explains names of isotretinoin, its physical and chemical characteristics. It also includes methods of preparation, thermal and spectral behavior, methods of analysis, and pharmacology.

Inhibition of retinoic acid biosynthesis by the bisdichloroacetyldiamine WIN 18,446 markedly suppresses spermatogenesis and alters retinoid metabolism in mice

Knowledge of the regulation of testicular retinoic acid synthesis is crucial for understanding its role in spermatogenesis. Bisdichloroacetyldiamines strongly inhibit spermatogenesis. We reported previously that one of these compounds, WIN 18,446, potently inhibited spermatogenesis in rabbits by inhibiting retinoic acid synthesis. To understand how WIN 18,446 inhibits retinoic acid synthesis, we characterized its effects on human retinal dehydrogenase ALDH1A2 in vitro as well as its effects on retinoid metabolism in vivo using mice. WIN 18,446 strongly and irreversibly inhibited ALDH1A2 in vitro. In vivo, WIN 18,446 treatment completely abolished spermatogenesis after 4 weeks of treatment and modestly reduced adiposity in mice fed a chow diet. Effects of WIN 18,446 on retinoid concentrations were tissue-dependent. Although lung and liver retinyl ester concentrations were lower in WIN 18,446-treated animals, adipose retinyl ester levels were increased following the treatment. Interestingly, animals treated with WIN 18,446 had significantly higher circulating retinol concentrations compared with control mice. The effect on spermatogenesis by WIN 18,446 was not prevented by simultaneous treatment with retinoic acid, whereas effects on other tissues were partially or completely reversed. Cessation of WIN 18,446 treatment for 4 weeks reversed most retinoid-related phenotypes except for inhibition of spermatogenesis. Our data suggest that WIN 18,446 may be a useful model of systemic acquired retinoic acid deficiency. Given the effects observed in our study, inhibition of retinoic acid biosynthesis may have relevance for the treatment of obesity and in the development of novel male contraceptives.

Tissue-specific distribution patterns of retinoids and didehydroretinoids in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

Retinoids (vitamin A) are known to be involved in many key biological functions in mammals, such as embryonic development, reproduction or vision. Besides standard vitamin A forms, freshwater fish tissues contain high levels of didehydroretinoids or vitamin A(2) forms. However, the tissue distribution, metabolism and function of both standard and particularly the didehydroretinoids are still poorly known in fish. In this study, we have quantified the levels of retinoids, including retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl palmitate and their corresponding didehydro forms, as well as the levels of the active polar retinoids all-trans-, 9-cis- and 13-cis-retinoic acid in distinct tissues of juvenile rainbow trout. Our results indicate that the liver is clearly the main retinoid storage tissue in juvenile rainbow trout. Didehydroretinoids were dominant over retinoids in all analyzed tissues with the exception of plasma. Additionally, significant differences among tissues were observed between retinoids and didehydroretinoids, such as differences in the ester profiles and the proportions between free and esterified forms, suggesting that mechanisms that favor the utilization or storage of one of the other groups of compounds might exist in fish. Our data also show the presence of polar retinoids in different tissues of fish at the fmol/g scale. Overall, this study clearly demonstrates the presence of tissue-specific patterns of accumulation of both polar and nonpolar retinoids in fish tissues. The biological relevance of these findings should be the focus of future studies.

Application of a key events dose-response analysis to nutrients: a case study with vitamin A (retinol)

The methodology used to establish tolerable upper intake levels (UL) for nutrients borrows heavily from risk assessment methods used by toxicologists. Empirical data are used to identify intake levels associated with adverse effects, and Uncertainty Factors (UF) are applied to establish ULs, which in turn inform public health decisions and standards. Use of UFs reflects lack of knowledge regarding the biological events that underlie response to the intake of a given nutrient, and also regarding the sources of variability in that response. In this paper, the Key Events Dose-Response Framework (KEDRF) is used to systematically consider the major biological steps that lead from the intake of the preformed vitamin A to excess systemic levels, and subsequently to increased risk of adverse effects. Each step is examined with regard to factors that influence whether there is progression toward the adverse effect of concern. The role of homeostatic mechanisms is discussed, along with the types of research needed to improve understanding of dose-response for vitamin A. This initial analysis illustrates the potential of the KEDRF as a useful analytical tool for integrating current knowledge regarding dose-response, generating questions that will focus future research efforts, and clarifying how improved knowledge and data could be used to reduce reliance on UFs.

Effect of vitamin A deficiency on retinol and retinyl esters contents in rat brain

In the present study, the pattern of vitamin A (retinol and retinyl esters) contents in discrete brain areas was investigated in Wistar rats (both sexes of 10-12 weeks old) fed on vitamin A deficient diet. The animals were placed on standard laboratory diet for the control animals and a vitamin A deficient diet for the experimental animals for 20 weeks. At the end of this period, brain retinol and retinyl esters contents from control and vitamin A deficient diet animals were measured by HPLC. Retinol was the predominant form of retinoids in male rat brains (77 to 92% of total retinol) and retinyl esters were the predominant form in female brain rats (4 to 44% of total retinol). The abundant ester in both sexes was the retinyl linoleate. Olfactory bulb and the midbrain contained the highest quantities of retinol and retinyl esters in both sexes. On the other hand, the vitamin A deficient diet significantly decreased the retinoid contents in male brain, in olfactory bulb (-30.7%), hindbrain (-46.2%) and increased it in forebrain (84.3%) and midbrain (2.2%). Total retinol was decreased in olfactory bulb (-38.7%), forebrain (-44.5%) and midbrain (-30.7%) and increased in hindbrain (23.4%) of vitamin A deficient female rats. In conclusion, retinol and retinyl esters were the brain compounds heterogeneously distributed throughout the brain areas in both the sexes and were significantly affected by vitamin A deficiency status as well.

Synthesis and in vitro biological activity of retinyl retinoate, a novel hybrid retinoid derivative

A new hybrid, retinyl retinoate 1, was synthesized with a condensing reaction between retinol and retinoic acid to improve the photo-stability, and the in vitro biological activity of the hybrid was analyzed. This retinol derivative had enhanced thermal stability and decreased photosensitivity, and exhibited decreased cell toxicity compared to that of retinol. In addition, RAR activity analysis showed that retinyl retinoate 1 had higher inhibitory activity against c-Jun than retinol and showed superior effects on collagen synthesis compared to retinol. Thus, retinyl retinoate 1 may have the potential to be conveniently used as an additive in cosmetics for prevention and improvement of skin aging and medicines for the treatment of skin troubles due to its excellent stability under severe and accelerated conditions.

HPLC/UV quantitation of retinal, retinol, and retinyl esters in serum and tissues

We report robust HPLC/UV methods for quantifying retinyl esters (RE), retinol (ROL), and retinal (RAL) applicable to diverse biological samples with lower limits of detection of 0.7, 0.2, and 0.2 pmol, respectively, and linear ranges greater than 3 orders of magnitude. These assays function well with small, complex biological samples (10-20mg tissue). Coefficients of variation range from 5.9 to 10.0% (intraday) and from 5.9 to 11.0% (interday). Quantification of endogenous RE, ROL, and RAL in mouse serum and tissues (liver, kidney, adipose, muscle, spleen, testis, skin, brain, and brain regions) reveals utility. Ability to discriminate spatial concentrations of ROL and RE is illustrated with C57BL/6 mouse brain loci (hippocampus, cortex, olfactory bulb, thalamus, cerebellum, and striatum). We also developed a method to distinguish isomeric forms of ROL to investigate precursors of retinoic acid. The ROL isomer assay has limits of detection between 3.5 and 4.5 pmol and has a linear range and coefficient of variation similar to those of the ROL/RE and RAL assays. The assays described here provide for sensitive and rigorous quantification of endogenous RE, ROL, and RAL to elucidate retinoid homeostasis in disease states such as Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

Physiological Role of Retinyl Palmitate in the Skin

The skin is similar to other organs in how it absorbs, stores, and metabolizes vitamin A. However, because of the anatomical location of skin and the specialized physiological roles it plays, there are ways in which the skin is rather unique. The stratified structure of the epidermis results from the orchestration of retinoid-influenced cellular division and differentiation. Similarly, many of the physiological responses of the skin, such as dermal aging, immune defense, and wound healing, are significantly affected by retinoids. While much is known about the molecular events through which retinoids affect the skin's responses, more remains to be learned. Interest in the effects of retinol, retinyl palmitate, and other retinoids on the skin, fueled in part by the promise of improved dermatologic and cosmetic products, will undoubtedly make the effects of retinoids on skin a subject for continued intense investigation.

Stability of cosmetic formulations containing esters of Vitamins E and A: Chemical and physical aspects

Cosmetic stability prediction relies on quantitative chemical determinations of active components after certain times and in different temperatures. However, physical stability, an important parameter in skin care products is not considered in these conditions. This study proposes the determination of cosmetic stability chemical and physical parameters validated by (HPLC) chromatography and rheological measurements, respectively, using a gel-cream containing retinyl palmitate and tocopheryl acetate as a model system. The predicted shelf life addresses both the physical and chemical aspects of the system. Results emphasize the importance of studying both parameters by showing the relation of components degradation and physical stability. Moreover, they contribute to an improved understanding of physical and chemical stability aspects of cosmetic formulations, mainly if they contain Vitamins A and E derivatives.

Automated on-line liquid chromatography–photodiode array–mass spectrometry method with dilution line for the determination of bisphenol A and 4-octylphenol in serum

A novel on-line liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection-mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-MS) system was established with restricted-access media (RAM) pre-column and dilution line combined with a column-switching valve. The serum samples were injected directly onto pre-column under diluted condition by dilution line. After elution of proteins in the serum, the analytes were backflushed onto an ODS analytical column using a six-port column-switching device. The influence of the composition of the mobile phase, for instance, organic modifer, ionic strength, pH, dilution times and the rotation time of the switching valve have been investigated using bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-octyphenol (4-OP) as analytes. The evaluations for peak responses and sensitivity were conducted by MS, and proteins were removed by RAM-column with DAD monitoring at 280 nm. The peak shape was improved by adding a dilution line, especially in the case of large volume injection (LVI), which increased the sensitivity of the analysis. The selective and sensitive quantification of BPA and 4-OP in serum sample could be finished within 25 min. The method had linearity in the range 0.1-500 ng/mL with a limit of quantification for BPA and 4-OP of 0.1 and 0.5 ng/mL, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 80-101% with less than 9.0% RSDs. This on-line LC-MS method demonstrates potential application to evaluating the exposure and risk of BPA and 4-OP in human.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of α-tocopherol, retinol and retinyl esters in human serum using a monolithic column for the monitoring of anticancer therapy side effects

Among other side effects, administration of anticancer agents is accompanied by manifestations of gastrointestinal toxicity and disturbances of antioxidant balance. The monitoring of these toxic effects in clinical practice is impeded by a dearth of reliable laboratory methods. Therefore, a simple and rapid reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography procedure for selective and sensitive determination of retinol, a-tocopherol, and retinyl esters (retinyl-palmitate and retinyl-stearate) in blood serum has been developed and presented in this study. A Series 200 LC HPLC instrument from Perkin Elmer (Norwalk, USA) with diode-array detector (DAD) was used for the analysis. Separations of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, retinyl-palmitate, and retinyl-stearate were performed using a Chromolith Performance RP-18e, 100 x 4.6 mm monolithic column from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany). Gradient elution was used at a flow rate of 3 mL/min; the mobile phase was methanol-water (95:5, v/v) for 0-2.1 min and methanol-2-propanol (60:40, v/v) for 2.1-4.9 min. The total time of analysis was 6 min. The injection volume was 20 microL and the analysis was performed at ambient temperature. Detection of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and retinyl esters was carried out at 325, 295, and 330 nm, respectively. For practical assessment of the method, the vitamin A absorption test was performed on seven healthy controls as well as on six patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma or head and neck carcinoma previously treated by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, six patients with rectal carcinoma before chemoradiotherapy, four patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) before treatment with imatinib, and a breast cancer patient with chemotherapy-induced diarrhea. Present data demonstrate the feasibility of large scale HPLC determination of vitamin E, vitamin A, and retinyl esters in human serum using a silica monolithic column, and this method may represent a valuable aid in the laboratory monitoring of the toxicity of anticancer therapy.

Risk of vitamin A toxicity from candy-like chewable vitamin supplements for children

Numerous vitamin supplements are available over-the-counter to the general public. Some such supplements are available as candy-like chewable preparations to encourage consumption by children. We report 3 cases of overdose of such preparations. Each patient had taken an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 IU of vitamin A. Their circulating vitamin A (retinol and retinyl palmitate) concentrations were monitored over a 6-month period. There were no clinical or biochemical complications noted. However, there were marked increases in both retinol and retinyl palmitate concentrations above age-related reference ranges. In particular, it took 1 to 3 weeks for the serum retinol concentrations to peak and many months for them to normalize. Parents should be warned about the dangers of excessive vitamin consumption. Clinicians should be aware of the late peak in serum retinol concentrations, which may lead to late complications of vitamin A overdose.

Repeated topical treatment, in contrast to single oral doses, with Vitamin A-containing preparations does not affect plasma concentrations of retinol, retinyl esters or retinoic acids in female subjects of child-bearing age

BACKGROUND

Vitamin A is widely used in cosmetic preparations. Given that oral Vitamin A and its metabolites present a potential reproductive risk, the present study investigated the effect of topical Vitamin A on human endogenous plasma levels of Vitamin A and its metabolites.

METHODS

Two groups of 14 female volunteers of child-bearing age were kept on a Vitamin A-poor diet and treated topically for 21 days with creams containing 0.30% retinol or 0.55% retinyl palmitate on approximately 3000 cm2 of their body surface area, amounting to a total of approximately 30,000 IU Vitamin A/subject/day. After a 12-day wash-out period, the study groups received single oral doses of 10,000 IU or 30,000 IU retinyl palmitate (RP), corresponding to the maximal EU allowance during pregnancy or three-times higher, respectively. Blood samples were collected over 24h on study days -3 (pre-study), 1, 21 (first and last days of topical treatment) and 34 (oral administration) at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 14-16 h and 24 h after treatment for determination of plasma concentrations of retinol (REL), retinyl palmitate (RP), oleate (RO) and stearate (RS), 9-cis-, 13-cis-, all-trans- (AT), 13-cis-4-oxo- or AT-4-oxo-retinoic acids (RAs).

RESULTS

With the exception of transient mild (RP-group) to moderate (REL-group) local irritation on the treatment sites, no adverse local or systemic effects were noted. On days 1 or 21 of topical treatment, no changes were measured in individual or group mean plasma Cmax, AUC0-24 h or other pharmacokinetic parameters of REL, retinyl esters or RAs relative to pre-study data. In contrast, single oral doses of RP at 10,000 IU or 30,000 IU produced dose-related and sustained increases in Cmax and AUC0-24 h values of plasma RP, RO, RS, 13-cis- and 13-cis-4-oxo-RAs, as well as a transient increase in AT-RA. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that human topical exposure to retinol- or retinyl ester-containing cosmetic creams at 30,000 IU/day and maximal use concentrations do not affect plasma levels of retinol, retinyl esters or RAs, whereas single oral doses at 10,000 IU or 30,000 IU produce significant increases in plasma retinyl esters and RAs.

Methods for detecting and identifying retinoids in tissue

Methods for retinoid analysis in tissue include direct spectrophotometry or fluorometry and retinoid responsive reporter constructs in the form of cell reporter assays or transgenic reporter animals, but chromatographic methods dominate and posses several superior features in quantitative analysis. The multitude of extraction protocols used can coarsely be divided into manual liquid-liquid extraction protocols and semi- or fully automated solid phase extraction-based protocols. Liquid chromatographic separation in reversed phase dominates although normal phase is also used. Detection is mainly performed with UV detectors although electrochemical and fluorescence detection is also used. Mass spectrometry in combination with LC is more often used in retinoid analysis and is likely to dominate in the future.

Automated solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatographic method for retinoid determination in biological samples

In this study, a method for partly automated sample preparation and fully automated solid-phase extraction method for plasma, kidney and liver samples for various retinoids like all-trans-4-oxo-retinoic acid, 13-cis-4-oxo-retinoic acid, 13-cis-retinoic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid, all-trans-retinoic acid, retinol and retinyl palmitate was established. Plasma, embryo-, kidney-and liver-homogenates were automatically mixed and extracted on multiple usage solid-phase (C2) extraction cartridges immediately before HPLC analysis. Automated cleaning, preconditioning and incorporation of the loaded cartridge to fully automated HPLC separation and quantification of the various retinoids in a single HPLC run was established. The recovery of the retinoids was generally between 80 and 90%. Intra-day repeatability was < 11.7%. As little as 1.2 ng/ml could be quantified in lipid-mixture standard samples. This method allows a highly automated sample preparation and a fully automated solid-phase extraction with good selectivity for the study of endogenous retinoids and retinoids after nutritional supplementations and pharmacological applications in several biological samples.

Chromatographic techniques for the determination of putative dietary anticancer compounds in biological fluids

Although a great number of papers demonstrate an association between high intake of fruits and vegetables and reduced risk of certain types of cancer, the epidemiological evidence is not conclusive. The identification and quantification of specific dietary anticancer compounds in plasma, urine and tissues is an important aspect of this research. We surveyed the recent literature for original papers which involved the use of separation techniques for the detection and quantification in biological fluids and tissues of putative anticancer compounds which are present in the diet. The compounds included in this review are flavonoids, phytoestrogens, carotenoids, retinoids, vitamin E and ascorbic acid. The review covers papers published in the last 3 years. For each class of compounds we discuss the sample preparation, chromatographic conditions, and validation of the methods used, in order to identify current trends in the bioanalysis of each class of these substances.

Qualitative and quantitative liquid chromatographic determination of natural retinoids in biological samples

Liquid chromatography continues to be the preferred method for determining retinoids in biological samples. The highly unstable nature of retinoids and the real possibility of artifacts or erroneous results have led to the development of rapid and highly automated protocols for retinoid extraction, separation and detection. Due to strong light absorbance in the ultraviolet region, UV detectors still predominate although mass spectrometric detection is gaining increased popularity. This paper reviews recent advances and provides major guidelines for using liquid chromatography to identify and quantify retinoids in biological samples.