FRACTIONATION OF TRIGLYCERIDES IN HUMAN-M ILK USING ARGENTATION AND REVERSED-PHASE HPLC WITH LIGHT-SCATTERING DETECTION

The triglycerides from human milk were separated by HPLC according to the number of double bonds, using a silver-loaded ion exchange column and a gradient from dichloromethane over dichloromethane/acetone (1 1) to acetone/acetonitrile (4 + 1). Subsequent HPLC of the 13 fraction s obtained with an RP-18-phase column resulted in further separations. In this case, isocratic elution with propionitrile/acetonitrile (7 3) and a temperature programme or gradient elution with acetone/aceton itrile were used. For both HPLC systems, the light scattering detector has proved to be an efficient tool. The composition of each fraction was quantitated by GLC of the triglycerides.