Rapid and convenient detection of urinary equol by thin-layer chromatography

• Published in: Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 43 - 47
• Main Authors: Yokoyama, S.(Gifu-ken. Government Office (Japan)), Kuzuguchi, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Center for Academic Publications Japan 01.02.2007
• Subjects: ALIMENT A BASE DE SOJA POUR HOMME; ALIMENTOS DERIVADOS DE LA SOJA; ANALYTICAL METHODS; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - urine; CHROMATOGRAPHIE EN COLONNE; CHROMATOGRAPHIE EN COUCHE MINCE; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods; Chromatography, Thin Layer - methods; COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY; CROMATOGRAFIA DE CAPA FINA; CROMATOGRAFIA DE COLUMNA; detection; ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS; Equol; Feeding. Feeding behavior; FOOD INTAKE; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HIDROLISIS ENZIMATICA; Humans; HYDROLYSE ENZYMATIQUE; INGESTION DE ALIMENTOS; Isoflavones - isolation & purification; Isoflavones - urine; METABOLITE; METABOLITES; METABOLITOS; ORINA; POLIFENOLES; POLYPHENOL; POLYPHENOLS; PRISE ALIMENTAIRE (HOMME); PURIFICACION; PURIFICATION; Sensitivity and Specificity; Soy Foods; Soybean Proteins - metabolism; SOYFOODS; TECHNIQUE ANALYTIQUE; TECNICAS ANALITICAS; THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY; URINE; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Urine; Vertebrata; equol; Mammalia; Detection; thin-layer chromatography
• ISSN: 0301-4800; 1881-7742
• DOI: 10.3177/jnsv.53.43

Equol, a metabolite of daidzein for some intestinal microflora, is known to retain highly estrogenic activity and is of wide interest in relation to human health. However, not all humans can produce equol. In this study, detection of urinary equol using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was performed to distinguish between equol producers and non-producers. After 36 h of soy food intake, urine, collected from 7 volunteers, was hydrolyzed, purified by reverse phase silica gel column and applied to normal phase TLC. Consequently, equol was clearly separated from the urine samples and discriminated the equol producers in this system. The detection limit of equol was at least 20 ng.