A NEW CONJUGATED LINOLEIC-ACID ISOMER, 7-TRANS, 9-CIS-OCTADECADIENOICACID, IN COW MILK, CHEESE, BEEF AND HUMAN-MILK AND ADIPOSE-TISSUE

The identity of a previously unrecognized conjugated linoleic acid (CL A) isomer, 7 trans, 9 cis-octadecadienoic acid (18:2) was confirmed in milk, cheese, beef, human milk, and human adipose tissue. The 7 trans , 9 cis-18:2 isomer was resolved chromatographically as the methyl est er by silver ion-high-performance liquid chromatography (Ag+-HPLC); it eluted after the major 9 cis, ii trans-1 8:2 isomer (rumenic acid) in the natural products analyzed. In the biological matrices investigate d by Ag+-HPLC, the 7 trans, 9 cis-18:2 peak was generally clue to the most abundant minor CLA isomer, ranging in concentration from 3 to 16% of total CLA. By gas chromatography (GC) with long polar capillary co lumns, the methyl ester of 7 trans, 9 cis-18:2 was shown to elute near the leading edge of the major 9 cis, ii trans-18:2 peak, while the 4, 4-dimethyloxazo line (DMOX) derivative permitted partial resolution of these two CLA isomers. The DMOX derivative of this new CLA isomer was analyzed by gas chromatography-electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC-EIMS). The double bond positions were at Delta 7 and Delta 9 as in dicated by the characteristic mass spectral fragment ions at m/z 168, 180, 194, and 206, and their allylic cleavages at m/z 154 and 234. The cis/trans double-bond configuration was established by CC-direct depo sition-fourier transform infrared as evidenced from the doublet at 988 and 949 cm(-1) and absorptions at 3020 and 3002 cm(-1). The 7 trans, 9 cis-18:2 configuration was established by GC-EIMS for the DMOX deriv ative of the natural products examined, and by comparison to a similar product obtained from treatment of a mixture of methyl 8-hydroxy- and 11-hydroxyoctadec-9 cis enoates with BF3 in methanol.