[Method study on calcium and phosphorus simultaneous determination by microwave-digestion and ICP-MS]

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Pediatric Nutrition

Context:

• Accurate determination of calcium and phosphorus in breast milk is crucial for infant nutrition.
• Existing methods for analyzing breast milk composition can be time-consuming or require separate analyses for different elements.
• Microwave-assisted digestion offers a rapid pre-treatment technique for complex biological samples.

Purpose:

• To develop and validate a rapid microwave-digestion method coupled with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for simultaneous determination of calcium and phosphorus in breast milk.
• To optimize digestion conditions and ICP-MS parameters for enhanced accuracy and reliability.
• To establish a robust analytical method suitable for routine assessment of mineral content in breast milk.

Summary:

• A microwave-digestion protocol was optimized for breast milk samples prior to analysis by ICP-MS.
• Simultaneous quantification of calcium and phosphorus was achieved using optimized internal elements, isotope mass numbers, and EPA200.8 interference calibration.
• Method validation using national standard reference materials demonstrated high accuracy (recovery 102.8–104.0%) and precision (RSD < 2.40%).

Impact:

• The developed ICP-MS method provides a wide dynamic range and eliminates the need for sample dilution, accommodating a large sample throughput.
• This approach overcomes limitations of traditional methods that require separate analyses for different elements.
• Offers a reliable and efficient tool for assessing calcium and phosphorus bioavailability in breast milk, supporting infant health and nutritional guidance.