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GC-MS Analysis of Medium- and Long-Chain Fatty Acids in Blood Samples
Lisa R Hoving1, Marieke Heijink2, Vanessa van Harmelen1
1Department of Human Genetics and Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Our body contains a wide variety of fatty acids that differ in chain length, the degree of unsaturation, and location of the double bonds. As the various fatty acids play distinct roles in health and disease, methods that can specifically determine the fatty acid profile are needed for fundamental and clinical studies. Here we describe a method for the separation and quantification of fatty acids ranging from 8 to 24 carbon chain lengths in blood samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry following derivatization using pentafluorobenzyl bromide. This method quantitatively monitors fatty acid composition in a manner that satisfies the requirements for comprehensiveness, sensitivity, and accuracy.
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