Determination of Vitamin A in Milk and Flour Consumed by One- to Four-Year-Old Children in Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

As part of a United Nations Children's Found (UNICEF) study, an analytical method is proposed for routine analysis of vitamin A in milk and flour consumed by 1- to 4-year-old children in Côte d'Ivoire. The method involves liquid-liquid extraction of sample followed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC). The method has been validated and used to analyze various samples collected at different locations and stored under unfavorable conditions. Average vitamin A content was 575 μg/100 g for milk powder and 1350 μg/100 g for millet flour. Lower contents were found in corn flour (40-240 μg/100 g), and no vitamin A could be detected in rice flour.