A high-performance liquid chromatographic technique is described to quantify beta carotene from alpha carotene and lycopene in human plasma. Total analysis time is 14.5 min. A reverse-phase column was employed with a mobile phase composed of 65% acetonitrile: tetrahydrofuran (90:10, v:v) in methanol. Use of the internal standard, beta-apo-8- carotenoic ethyl ester permitted a reliable way to quantify potential losses in plasma extractions. Plasma beta carotene levels obtained from subjects several days after supplement use were observed to increase three-fold or more.
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