Fast and Easy Simultaneous Determination of Riboflavin, Folic Acid, All-Trans-Retinol and α-Tocopherol in Human Serum by LC/MS/MS for Bariatric Patients.

This article focuses on the development and validation of a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for simultaneous determination of four vitamins—riboflavin (B2), folic acid (B9), vitamin A (all-trans-retinol), and vitamin E (α-tocopherol)—in human serum, particularly for monitoring bariatric patients. The method employs ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with protein precipitation sample preparation and isotope-labeled internal standards, achieving a 10-minute analysis time and meeting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bioanalytical validation criteria for accuracy, precision, and sensitivity. Application of this method to serum samples from 87 bariatric patients revealed wide variability in vitamin concentrations, with many patients showing levels below therapeutic reference ranges, underscoring the clinical importance of comprehensive vitamin monitoring in this population. The study highlights the method's potential utility in clinical practice and nutritional research, especially given the risk of micronutrient deficiencies following bariatric surgery and rapid weight loss.