Rapid analysis of inositol phosphates

Fast and simple analytical methods for the determination of inositol bis- t o hexakisphosphates or only inositol hexakisphosphate in foods and feces ar e presented. The methods are both faster and simpler with regard to analyti cal detection and sample pretreatment as compared to previously reported me thods. The samples are pretreated using extraction and centrifugal ultrafil tration and analyzed using high-performance ion chromatography (HPIC) with gradient or isocratic elution. The analytes are detected using ultraviolet detection after postcolumn reaction. The methods are efficient, highly sele ctive, and appropriate for analyzing inositol phosphates in food and feces samples. The between- and within-day variances were generally below 8 and 5 % (relative standard deviation), respectively, for the presented HPIC metho d with gradient elution.