Quantitation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma, by ion-pairing reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography

An ion-pairing high performance liquid chromatography method is described for the separation and quantitation of malondialdehyde in plasma. The MDA is determined as the thiobarbiturate chromogen formed by reaction of the plasma with 2-thiobarbituric acid under acid and heating conditions. However, under these conditions other interfering chromogens can also be formed. Using DEAE-cellulose chromatography followed by ion-pairing HPLC, we have been able to separate and quantitate the levels of MDA-TBA chromogen formed in plasma from other interfering chromogens. Measurements of MDA levels in the plasma of six normal individuals by HPLC gives a mean value of 4.57 +/- 0.33 nmole/ml, whereas the spectrophotometric determined value is 8.83 +/- 1.15 nmole/ml. These data suggest that some reevaluation of the numerous papers published on MDA levels in plasma using spectrophotometric methods may be necessary.