Bile alcohol glucuronides in urine. identification of 27-nor-5β-cholestane-3α,7α,12α,24ξ,25ξ-pentol in man

Abstract A new bile alcohol was detected in urine from healthy subjects and patients with liver disease. Urine was extracted with Amberlite XAD-2 and a glucuronide fraction was isolated by ion exchange chromatography on Lipidex-DEAP. Following enzymatic hydrolysis, neutral compounds were purified on Lipidex DEAP, and the major bile alcohol was isolated by chromatography on Lipidex 1000. Based on a combination of microchemical reactions and capillary column GC/MS, the new bile alcohol was identified as 27-nor-5β-cholestane-3α,7α,12α,24ξ,25ξ-pentol. GC/MS analysis of the derivatized purified glucuronide fraction indicates that the bile alcohol is excreted conjugated with glucuronic acid.