Abstract: Three methods for extracting lutein from formulated foods for infant and young children such as potassium hydroxide saponification, acetone extraction and n-hexane extraction were compared, and the n-hexane extraction method was found to be the best of them. An HPLC method for the determination of lutein was developed based on the selected extraction method. The chromatographic separation was performed on a YMC Carotenoid (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5μm) using a mobile phased composed of methanol and methyl tertiary butyl ether under a gradient elution mode at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Lutein was detected at the wavelength of 445 nm. The method was characterized by easy operation and high extraction efficiency (95.4% average recovery), and good reproducibility (0.93% RSD). The detection limit was 2μg/100 g. It allowed accurate determination of lutein in formulated foods for infant and young children.

Key words: lutein, formulated foods for infant and young children, high performance liquid chromatography, extraction