No abstract

Natural and synthetic conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are reputed to have therapeutic properties that are specific to particular geometrical and positional isomers. Analysis of these has presented unique problems that have brought forward distinctive solutions, especially the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatography. In the analysis of CLA present at low levels in tissue samples, it is sometimes necessary to use concentration methods. In this review, the most useful and practical methods for the isolation and analysis of CLA isomers in tissues and in commercial CLA preparations are described.

Operating from one to six silver ion-high-performance liquid chromatography (Ag+-HPLC) columns in series progressively improved the resolution of the methyl esters of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomeric mixtures from natural and commercial products. In natural products, the 8 trans, 10 cis-octadecadienoic (18:2) acid was resolved from the more abundant 7 trans, 9 cis-18:2, and the 10 trans, 12 cis-18:2 was separated from the major 9 cis, 11 trans-18:2 peak. In addition, both 11 trans, 13 cis-18:2 and 11 cis, 13 trans-18:2 isomers were found in natural products and were separated; the presence of the latter, 11 cis, 13 trans-18:2, was established in commercial CLA preparations. Three Ag+-HPLC columns in series appeared to be the best compromise to obtain satisfactory resolution of most CLA isomers found in natural products. A single Ag+-HPLC column in series with one of several normal-phase columns did not improve the resolution of CLA isomers as compared to that of the former alone. The 20:2 conjugated fatty acid isomers 11 cis, 13 trans-20:2 and 12 trans, 14 cis-20:2, which were synthesized by alkali isomerization from 11 cis, 14 cis-20:2, eluted in the same region of the Ag+-HPLC chromatogram just before the corresponding geometric CLA isomers. Therefore, CLA isomers will require isolation based on chain length prior to Ag+-HPLC separation. The positions of conjugated double bonds in 20:2 and 18:2 isomers were established by gas chromatography-electron ionization mass spectrometry as their 4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives. The double-bond geometry was determined by gas chromatography-direct deposition-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and by the Ag+-HPLC relative elution order.