Highly simplified method for gas-liquid chromatographic quantitation of bile acids and sterols in human stool

A simple method for the gas-liquid chromatographic quantitation of human fe cal bile acids and sterols is described where bile acids are subjected to n -butyl ester derivatization, without prior isolation from the stool, follow ed by trimethylsilylation of the sterols and bile acids, Under these condit ions, bile acid derivatives are well resolved from each other and from the trimethylsilyl ether derivatives of fecal sterols and no overlap occurs. Th e method was shown to be highly reproducible and recoveries were similar to those obtained with other methods used for fecal bile acid analysis. Appli cation of the method for bile acid and sterol analysis in human stool is de scribed., Highly simplified method for gas-liquid chromatographic quantitat ion of bile acids and sterols in human stool.