Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of human fecal bile acids.

A method for the determination of total bile acids in human feces that is suitable for routine application is described and discussed. Bile acids are extracted from freeze-dried feces with acetic acid and toluene, in the presence of the internal standard 23-nordeoxycholic acid. After saponification of the extract, bile acids and the internal standard are methylated and converted by mild chromic acid oxidation into their ketonic derivatives. The resultant mixture of a few stable compounds can be separated and measured quantitatively by gas-liquid chromatography on a methylsiloxane polymer. A reference bile acid mixture including the internal standard is also taken through the entire procedure with each series of samples. It has been demonstrated that, in spite of the omission of the usual purification steps, the method is specific for bile acids.