Gas chromatography method for the separation of amino acids enantiomers in plasma and urine. Application in a case of short bowel syndrome.

Urinary amino acids were isolated from the urine of healthy controls and a patient with a short bowel syndrome. Following derivatization with isopropyl alcohol/HCl and trifluoroacetic anhydride the amino acid enantiomers were separated by gas chromatography on a Chirasil-L-Val column. All subjects excreted D-alanine (10-30% of total Ala). The percentage D-alanine was higher in the patient with the short bowel syndrome. The excretion of D-alanine did not correlate with the D-lactate excretion. An intestinal origin for the D-amino acids is the most probable explanation.