This study validates a gas chromatography (GC) method for determining the sterol profile of human milk (HM) and compares it with an enzymatic–spectrophotometric (E-S) method. Good linearity (r > 0.97) and low limits of detection and quantification were obtained with the GC method (<1.8 and <6 μg/100 g of HM, respectively). Suitable intra- and interassay precisions (all <18%) and satisfactory recovery percentages (80–109%) were obtained for both methods. In addition, both methodologies were used to assess cholesterol evolution in HM during lactation, showing a 50% decrease at 6 months versus colostrum. The E-S method overestimated cholesterol content by <20% versus the GC method. The results indicate that both methods may be used by the industry and in research to better understand the differences between the sterol profiles of infant formulas and HM.

中文翻译：

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哺乳期人乳中的胆固醇含量：酶法和色谱法的比较研究

这项研究验证了气相色谱（GC）方法确定人乳（HM）的甾醇谱并将其与酶促分光光度法（ES）进行比较。良好的线性度（[R> 0.97）并通过GC方法获得低检测限和定量限（分别<1.8和<6μg/ 100 g HM）。两种方法均获得了合适的测定内和测定间精密度（均<18％）和令人满意的回收率（80-109％）。此外，这两种方法均用于评估哺乳期HM中胆固醇的演变，与初乳相比在6个月时降低了50％。与GC方法相比，ES方法高估了胆固醇含量<20％。结果表明，这两种方法均可被工业界和研究机构使用，以更好地了解婴儿配方奶粉和HM的甾醇谱之间的差异。