Determination of B-group vitamins in Turkish honey using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method with electrospray ionization (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) for analysis of B-group vitamins in honey has been presented. Aim of this study is the characterization of different types of Turkish honeys according to B-group vitamins. Vitamins were determined in 17 different types of Turkish honey samples by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Heather honey samples were distinguished among the studied honeys with the richest vitamin content with 286.10mg/kg, and it is followed by sunflower honey and thyme honey with the total vitamin contents of 206.01 and 163.27mg/kg, respectively. The presence of vitamin B-1 (thiamine), vitamin B-2 (riboflavin), vitamin B-3 (nicotinamide, B3N and nicotinic acid, B3H), vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), and vitamin B-9 (folic acid) was detected in all the honey samples analyzed. Moreover, vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid) was observed in most of them. Vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) and vitamin B-7 (biotine) were not detected in the studied honey samples. Turkish honey samples showed efficacious vitamin content for the consumers. [GRAPHICS]