A Validated LC-MS/MS Method for Quantifying Phenolic Acids, Lignans, and Enterolignans from Human Fecal Samples

Area of Science:

• Human gut microbiome research
• Analytical chemistry
• Metabolomics

Background:

• The human gut harbors bioactive small molecules, including phenolic acids, lignans, and enterolignans.
• These compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and protective effects against chronic diseases.
• Understanding their levels is crucial for assessing gut health and disease risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification.
• To analyze a panel of 22 phenolic acids, lignans, and enterolignans in human fecal samples.
• To provide a simple, robust, and high-throughput analytical solution.

Main Methods:

• Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed.
• A streamlined sample preparation protocol was utilized.
• Analytical runtime was optimized to 5 minutes per sample.

Main Results:

• The method enables simultaneous quantification of 22 target compounds.
• High-throughput analysis is achieved due to rapid sample preparation and short run times.
• A 16-fold increase in sensitivity allows for detection of previously unquantifiable lignans.

Conclusions:

• The validated LC-MS/MS method is suitable for high-throughput analysis of key gut metabolites.
• This method improves the detection and quantification of lignans and enterolignans.
• It offers a valuable tool for gut health research and clinical diagnostics.