Distribution patterns of n-alkanes in human liver, urine and sweat

Abstract

Paraffins in human liver, urine and sweat were isolated by extraction, molecular sieving, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the distribution patterns of n-alkanes in these organic materials compared. n-Alkanes in liver (about 10 mg/kg wet wt.) were found to contain 12–33 C-atoms. n-Alkanes with more than 20 C-atoms contained predominately an odd number of C-atoms, whereas in the smaller molecules even-numbered homologues predominated. An excessive concentration of n-nonacosane (C 29H 60) indicates a vegetable diet. In urine n-alkanes (about 1.3 mg/1) containing 13–30 C-atoms were isolated, with a striking predominance of the even-numbered homologues, showing a possible connection between the hydrocarbons in liver and those in urine. In sweat a series of n-alkanes (about 27 mg/g lipid extract from sweat) in the range from 12 to 35 C-atoms was found with a highest concentration of pentacosane (C 25H 52), indicating a similarity to the alkane pattern of human blood serum.