Analysis of fecal neutral steroids and bile acids in humans on constant fat diet

Abstract
A method is described for the separation and quantification of fecal neutral steroids and fecal bile acids. The fecal extract is separated into the neutral steroid fraction and bile acid fraction with ionexchange resin columns. The principal neutral steroids and bile acids are then separated and quantitated by thin-layer chromatography. Values for the fecal neutral steroids, cholesterol, coprostanol and coprostanone and fecal bile acids, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid of 5 subjects on a constant fat diet for a 3-week period are presented.