A Critical Review of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in the Analysis of Water-Soluble Vitamins

This review presents an in-depth analysis of the advancements in High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for detecting and measuring water-soluble vitamins, such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), pyridoxal (B6), and cobalamin (B12), from 2000 to 2024. These vitamins play essential roles in metabolic functions, energy synthesis, and antioxidant defense mechanisms, making their accurate quantification necessary for food and pharmaceutical industries. Their instability under environmental conditions, including heat, light, and oxygen exposure—further emphasizes the demand for precise detection methods. HPLC has become the preferred analytical technique due to its high sensitivity, selectivity, and ability to analyze complex food compositions. This review highlights significant improvements in chromatographic separation techniques and detection methods that have enhanced accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability in vitamin analysis. Innovations in detector technologies have minimized matrix interferences, leading to more dependable results. Ongoing improvements in HPLC are essential to meet the increasing demand for precise vitamin quantification. This study underscores HPLC's evolution as a critical tool in ensuring food quality and safety