Estimation of neutral sugars and sugar alcohols in biological fluids by gas-liquid chromatography

Gas-liquid chromatographic procedures for measuring sugar and polyol concentrations in biological fluids are reviewed. Such methods require the preparations of derivatives such as methyl ethers, trimethylsilyl ethers or acetyl esters. Prior to derivatisation samples must be deproteinised and dried. Complex mixtures of sugars and sugar alcohols may be resolved. Quantitative analyses are precise, sensitive and linear. If internal standardisation is used recoveries approaching 100% are obtained.