Identification of mono- and dihydroxy bile acids in human feces by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

The mono- and disubstituted cholanoic acids present in human feces have been investigated. Extracts of feces were fractionated on silicic acid column and individual bile acids were isolated by preparative thin-layer chromatography. The isolated compounds were studied by gas-liquid chromatography of the methyl esters, partial trimethylsilyl ethers, oxidation products, and trifluoroacetates. The probable structures deduced were confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and by comparisons with authentic compounds. The following derivatives of 5 Beta-cholanoic acid not previously isolated from human feces were identified: 3,12-diketo, 3-keto-12alpha-hydroxy, 3alpha,12 Beta-dihydroxy, 3 Beta,12 Beta-dihydroxy, 3-keto-7alpha-hydroxy, 3alpha-hydroxy-7-keto, 3 Beta,7alpha-dihydroxy, 3alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy, and 3alpha,7 Beta-dihydroxy. The presence of 3-keto-, 3 Beta-hydroxy-, 3alpha-hydroxy-, 3 Beta-hydroxy-12-keto-, 3alpha-hydroxy-12-keto-, 3 Beta,12alpha-dihydroxy-, and 3alpha,12alpha-dihydroxy-5 Beta-cholanoic acids was confirmed. Evidence was obtained for the presence of two bile acids having at least one hydroxyl group at a carbon atom other than C(3), C(7), or C(12).