Recent advances in detection techniques for vitamin analysis: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Vitamins are vital micronutrients that play critical roles in human growth and development. However, vitamins are highly susceptible to degradation by light, heat, oxygen, and interactions with other food components during processing and storage. Additionally, insufficient intake or malabsorption can lead to vitamin deficiencies, resulting in various diseases. Since the human body cannot synthesize most vitamins, they must be sourced through diet or supplementation. Therefore, vitamin analysis is critical for meeting human nutritional needs and ensuring quality control. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in vitamin analysis. Here, we propose a comprehensive and critical evaluation of detection methods for water- and fat-soluble vitamins that have been studied over the past five years, including microbiology-, spectroscopy-, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-, electrochemistry-, sensor-, and immunoassay-based analysis techniques. Notably, immunoassays are highlighted for their simplicity, affordability, and high sensitivity. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of vitamin analysis are discussed.