Determination of underivatised sterols and bile acid trimethyl silyl ether methyl esters by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-single ion monitoring in faeces.

A method for quantification of total faecal sterols and bile acids (BAs) in human stool by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-single ion monitoring (GC-MS-SIM) is described. Cholesterol, coprostanol, coprostanone, cholestanol, iso-lithocholic acid (iso-LCA), lithocholic acid (LCA), iso-deoxycholic acid (iso-DCA), deoxycholic acid (DCA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), cholic acid (CA), and 12-oxo-deoxycholic acid (12-oxo-DCA) in faeces of 86 healthy subjects were determined. The sample preparation for sterol analysis requires hydrolysis and liquid extraction from matrix, but no derivatisation. The GC-flame ionisation detection (FID) and total ion current (TIC) in GC-MS were not sufficient for sterol and BA determination, whereas selectivity and specificity of the GC-MS-SIM ensured the analysis of sterols and BAs in faeces.