Ascorbic acid in diet supplements: loss in the manufacturing process and storage.

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Dietary supplements containing ascorbic acid (vitamin C) are widely consumed across various demographics.
• Accurate quantification of vitamin C is crucial for ensuring supplement efficacy and consumer safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the ascorbic acid content in commercially available diet supplements in pill and ampoule forms.
• To evaluate ascorbic acid losses during manufacturing, storage, and processing.
• To assess the correlation between ascorbic acid loss and other product components.

Main Methods:

• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed for quantitative analysis of ascorbic acid.
• Method validation included assessment of linearity, reproducibility, recovery, and accuracy.
• Stability studies were conducted under controlled temperature and light conditions.

Main Results:

• Ascorbic acid content varied from 15.62-50.16 mg/g in pills and 2.12-8.83 mg/ml in ampoules.
• Significant losses of ascorbic acid were observed post-manufacturing (11.7-21.9%) and during storage (1.8-24.8%).
• Ascorbic acid loss showed a direct correlation with protein, humidity, ash, and fructose content.

Conclusions:

• The pharmaceutical form influences ascorbic acid stability and content.
• Manufacturing and commercialization processes can lead to substantial vitamin C degradation.
• Strict quality control measures are essential to guarantee the stated vitamin C content in supplements.