RAPID-DETERMINATION OF TRANS-FATTY-ACIDS IN HUMAN ADIPOSE-TISSUE - COMPARISON OF ATTENUATED TOTAL-REFLECTION INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY AND GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A rapid attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared (IR) spectroscopy p rocedure was used for quantitating the levels of total trans-fatty aci d methyl ester (FAME) derivatives in neat (without solvent) test sampl es isolated from human adipose tissue. This procedure requires no weig hing of the laboratory sample. The single-beam spectrum of the trans-c ontaining FAMEs was 'ratioed' against that of a reference material hav ing only cis double bonds in order to obtain a symmetric absorption ba nd at 966 cm(-1) on a horizontal background, A single reflection ATR d iamond cell that requires only about 1 mu l of neat FAMEs was used. Th e average level of trans-fatty acids in human adipose tissue found by ATR (3.07+/-0.27%) was generally higher than that obtained by gas chro matography (2.59+/-0.20%). Reasons for such a difference are discussed . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.