Improved normal-phase and reversed-phase gradient high-performance liquid chromatography procedures for the analysis of retinoids and carotenoids in human serum, plant and animal tissues.

Two high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedures, a rapid normal-phase isocratic method for the analysis primarily of retinol and retinoic acid on a 3 mu silica column, and a reversed-phase gradient method for the simultaneous analysis of retinoids and very polar to nonpolar carotenoids on a 3 mu C18 column, are described. The normal-phase isocratic HPLC procedure is rapid (12 min), requires a sample size of 100 microl or less of serum, and is suitable for routine analysis of retinol in any serum, and of retinol and retinoic acid in serum after administration of retinoic acid. The reversed-phase gradient method is suitable for the simultaneous analysis of very polar to nonpolar carotenoids such as epoxy-xanthophylls and xanthophyll esters, along with other carotenoids and retinoids that occur normally in human serum and other plant and animal tissues. A run time of 30-70 min is necessary, depending on the presence or absence of xanthophyll esters in the sample.