Determination of trans-phylloquinone in children's serum.

By optimizing the conditions for determining trans-phylloquinone and its metabolite, K-2,3-epoxide, in serum through a two-step HPLC process combined with fluorometric detection after coulometric reduction, we have been able to develop a method applicable to small volumes of serum (200 to 500 microL). The limit of detection (signal-to-noise ratio of 3) was 15 ng/L for trans-phylloquinone, 30 ng/L for K-2,3-epoxide. The trans-phylloquinone concentrations measured by this method in serum from 82 children, ages one to six years, whose results were normal for overall coagulation tests, ranged from 40 to 880 ng/L (median 175 ng/L). We discuss these findings and compare them with vitamin K1(20) values reported for adults.