Short chain fatty acids in plasma and brain: quantitative determination by gas chromatography.

A reliable and practicable method for the determination of short chain fatty acids in plasma and brain tissue is presented. The sample preparation by partition chromatography on silicic acid allows subsequently a quantitation of short chain fatty acids without interference by methylmalonic acid, or other more polar compounds. With the gas-chromatographic system 2-methylbutyrate is separated from isovalerate. Reference values are given for plasma. The system is also useful in combination with mass spectrometry.