Some factors affecting determination of carotenoids in serum

Because of increasing interest in carotenoid pigments, we conducted a study of the methods of determining carotenoids in serum. We found 1 mol of KOH per liter of absolute methanol to be the most effective saponifying solution. The absorbance of beta-carotene in petroleum ether, the extraction solvent, is proportional to dilution up to an absorbance of 0.85 at 450 nm. Beta-carotene in petroleum ether solution is not impracticably sensitive to ambient light at room temperature. However, if vitamin A is also to be measured in these serum specimens or petroleum ether extracts, exposure to light should be minimized. We found that serum may be shipped either in cold packs or at ambient temperature (tested up to five days) without significant change in carotenoid concentration. Serum samples for carotenoid determination are best stored at -70 degrees C: samples stored at -20 degrees C deteriorate substantially over several months.