Simultaneous analysis of neutral monosaccharides, fatty acids and cholesterol as biomarkers from a drop of blood

Abstract

Aim: We have developed a method for simultaneous monitoring of more biomarkers from three different classes of compounds by simultaneous analysis of neutral monosaccharides, fatty acids (FAs) and cholesterol as their per-O-methylated derivatives from a drop of blood by GC–MS. This work is a development of our previous results about analysis of neutral monosaccharides from a drop of blood. Methods & results: The simultaneous per-O-methylation was obtained by methylation in one step with methyl iodide and NaOH in DMSO. The per-O-methylated derivatives were separated in one chromatogram. The quantitative analysis was reproducible for five monosaccharides, 22 FAs and cholesterol. The results of this method were compared with those of the enzymatic methods using commercial kits. Conclusion: This method can avoid the saponification of the FA methyl esters and can analyze for the first time simultaneously neutral monosaccharides, FAs and cholesterol from a drop of blood.