Simultaneous quantitation of fatty acids, sterols and bile acids in human stool by capillary gas–liquid chromatography

A simple method for the simultaneous gas–liquid chromatographic quantitation of fatty acids, sterols and bile acids from human fecal samples is described. The various compounds are directly converted into the n-butyl ester-trimethylsilyl ether derivatives, without prior isolation from the stool. Under these conditions, fecal bile acid derivatives are well resolved from each other and from those of fecal fatty acids and sterols without overlaps. The method was found to be reproducible and recoveries were similar to those obtained after exhaustive solvent extraction of fecal sterols, fatty acids and bile acids. Optimum derivatization conditions that allowed maximum recovery of fecal components with minimal destruction and application of the method for simultaneous bile acid, fatty acid and sterol analysis in human stool are described.