Simultaneous quantification of niacin and its three main metabolites in human plasma by LC-MS/MS

A sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of niacin (NA) and its three main metabolites nicotinamide (NAM), nicotinuric acid (NUA) and N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2-Pyr) in human plasma has been developed and validated. Plasma samples (200 μL) were prepared by deproteinization with acetonitrile (500 μL), then the supernatant after centrifugation was evaporated and reconstituted. Chromatography was performed on a phenomenex synergi hydro-RP column with an isocratic elution of methanol-0.1% formic acid (5:95, v/v). The full separation of all analytes was achieved within 9 min. Multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) using the fragmentation transitions of m/z 124.1 → 80.1, 123.1 → 80.0, 181.0 → 79.0 and 153.1 → 110.2 in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode was performed to quantify NA, NAM, NUA and 2-Pyr, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 2.0-3000 ng/mL for NA and NUA, 10.0-1600 ng/mL for NAM and 50.0-5000 ng/mL for 2-Pyr. This method has been validated in accordance with the US FDA guidelines for bioanalytical method development and applied to the determination of NA and its three main metabolites in Chinese subjects following a single oral dose of niacin extended-release and simvastatin 1000 mg/20mg. In particular, because of the endogenous NAM and 2-Pyr in human plasma, the concentrations of NAM and 2-Pyr in human plasma after dosing were determined by subtracting blank values of them.