A simplified method for the determination of steroids in diets and faeces

A simplified method for the quantitative isolation and determination of sterols and bile acids for application in sterol balance studies in humans consuming mixed general food is described. The recovery of steroids from diets and from faeces was found to be quantitative. By application of temperature programmed gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) pre-separation could be omitted from the multistep analytical procedure. Furthermore, it was possible to use simple internal standards, 5alpha-cholestane and/or 5beta-cholanic acid, instead of labeled compounds for the calculation of overall recoveries.