Quantitation of beta-sitosterol in bourbon

Four phytoestrogens have previously been isolated and identified in alcoholic beverages. Before studies to evaluate the degree of estrogenicity of these substances can be performed, it is necessary to determine appropriate doses to be administered to experimental animals. Because beta-sitosterol is the most plentiful, being present in bourbon at microgram/dl quantities, we have chosen to begin our quantitation work with this compound. The variability of the amount of beta-sitosterol contained in various brands of bourbon and in different lots of the same brand of bourbon have been assessed using combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for quantitation following a simplified procedure to extract compounds of interest from bourbon.