Simultaneous measurement of plasma vitamin D3 metabolites, including 4β,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Simultaneous and accurate measurement of circulating vitamin D metabolites is critical to studies of the metabolic regulation of vitamin D and its impact on health and disease. To that end, we have developed a specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method that permits the quantification of major circulating vitamin D3 metabolites in human plasma. Plasma samples were subjected to a protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, and Diels-Alder derivatization procedure prior to LC-MS/MS analysis. Importantly, in all human plasma samples tested, we identified a significant dihydroxyvitamin D3 peak that could potentially interfere with the determination of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3] concentrations. This interfering metabolite has been identified as 4β,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [4β,25(OH)2D3] and was found at concentrations comparable to 1α,25(OH)2D3. Quantification of 1α,25(OH)2D3 in plasma required complete chromatographic separation of 1α,25(OH)2D3 from 4β,25(OH)2D3. An assay incorporating this feature was used to simultaneously determine the plasma concentrations of 25OHD3, 24R,25(OH)2D3, 1α,25(OH)2D3, and 4β,25(OH)2D3 in healthy individuals. The LC-MS/MS method developed and described here could result in considerable improvement in quantifying 1α,25(OH)2D3 as well as monitoring the newly identified circulating metabolite, 4β,25(OH)2D3.