Chromatographic and capillary electrophoretic methods for the analysis of nicotinic acid and its metabolites

Methods for the assay of nicotinic acid (NiAc) and its metabolites in biolo gical fluids using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capill ary electrophoresis (CE) are reviewed. Most of the references cited in this review concern HPLC methods. A few CE methods that have been recently repo rted are also included. As these compounds are relatively polar and have a wide range of physico-chemical properties, the sample pre-treatment or clea n-up process prior to analysis is included. Most HPLC methods using an isoc ratic elution system allow determination of a single or few metabolites, bu t gradient HPLC methods enable simultaneous determination of five to eight compounds. Simultaneous determination of NiAc including many metabolites in a single run can be achieved by CE. We also discuss the pharmacokinetics o f NiAc and some of its metabolites. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.