Measurement of the metabolic interconversion of deuterium-labeled fatty acids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Abstract

An analytical method that was developed to analyze deuterium-labeled fatty acids in human blood has been extended to identify labeled fatty acids from C₁₄ to C₂₄ chain length which are formed by metabolic processes such as desaturation, elongation, or shortening of the labeled fatty acids fed. A new computer and a hard-wave adder have been utilized to assure reliable data acquisition. Relative standard derivations for the analysis of labeled fatty acids were measured at 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 at the 5%, 1%, and 0.2% levels of the labeled fatty acid methyl esters, respectively. The method makes extensive use of standards and computer processing for accuracy and high productivity. Data from a chylomicron triacylglycerol fraction are included to demonstrate the sensitivity of detection of metabolites formed by desaturation and elongation.