Determination and assessment of the bioaccessibility of vitamins B1, B2, and B3 in commercially available cereal-based baby foods

Vitamins B-1, B-2, and B-3 are important nutritional components of cereal-based baby foods. It is important to know the bioaccessibility of these vitamins for infant and young children's nutrition. The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the bioaccessibility of vitamins B-1, B-2, and B-3 in cereal-based baby foods in different gastric pHs using an in vitro digestive system. The amount of vitamins B-1 (thiamine), B-2 (riboflavin), and B-3 (nicotinic acid and nicotinamide) in 13 cereal-based baby foods were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). When compared with the declarations on the label, the measured vitamin B-1, B-2, and B-3 amounts ranged from 105% to 246%, 107% to 207%, and 115% to 170% of the listed amount in cereal-based baby foods, respectively. The average bioaccessibility of thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide in cereal-based baby foods in gastric pH 1.5 were 81%, 79%, 39%, and 51%, respectively. When the gastric pH increased to 4, the average bioaccessibility was 65%, 67%, 33%, and 41%, respectively. It is thought that the bioaccessibility of vitamins B-1, B-2, and B-3 is significantly influenced by stability, temperature, pH of the gastrointestinal tract, dietary fiber content, as well as bonds with polysaccharides and polypeptides. These results indicate that the bioaccessibility of these water-soluble vitamins may be low in vivo.