DETERMINATION OF STEROL CONTENT IN DIFFERENT FOOD SAMPLES BY CAPILLARY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

An accurate method for the determination of sterols by capillary gas c hromatography was developed and applied to the analysis of food. The p rocedure includes the following steps: dichloromethane-methanol (2:1, v/v) lipid extraction, saponification at 80 degrees C and separation o f the unsaponifiable matter with cyclohexane, derivatization to form t rimethylsilyl ethers and gas chromatography using 5 alpha-cholestane a s the internal standard. The method shows good accuracy, precision and sensitivity and is suitable for the determination of sterols in food.