Isomerization of retinyl palmitate using conventional lipid extraction solvents

The use of a chloroform-ethanol-water solvent system for the direct extraction of retinyl palmitate isomers from fortified food products was previously shown to be unsuitable because significant isomerization of all-trans-retinyl palmitate occurred during the extraction. This study investigated the extent of isomerization of retinyl palmitate in various extraction solvents when subjected to gold fluorescent laboratory light. Purified solutions of all-trans-retinyl palmitate in hexane were diluted with methyl t-butyl ether, hexane, methylene chloride, and stabilized chloroform and subjected to gold fluorescent laboratory light for 2, 4, and 6.5 h. Similar solutions were subjected to light or kept in the dark for 3.5 h. All-trans-, 9-cis-, and 13-cis-retinyl palmitate esters in the solutions were determined by using normal phase high performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection. Results demonstrated a noticeable increase in the 9-cis-retinyl palmitate concentration and a corresponding decrease in all-trans-retinyl palmitate concentration with time, in chloroform and methylene chloride compared with hexane. Chlorinated solvents in the absence of light did not promote isomerization of retinyl palmitate. Use of chlorinated solvents for the extraction of vitamin A esters should be avoided because they promote isomerization of retinyl palmitate when subjected to light, including gold fluorescent laboratory light.