Application of gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) for the analysis of deuterium enrichment of water

Incorporation of deuterium from deuterium oxide (²H₂O) into biological components is a commonly used approach in metabolic studies. Determining the dilution of deuterium in the body water (BW) pool can be used to estimate body composition. We describe three sensitive GC/MS/MS methods to measure water enrichment in BW. Samples were reacted with NaOH and U‐¹³C₃‐acetone in an autosampler vial to promote deuterium exchange with U‐¹³C₃‐acetone hydrogens. Headspace injections were made of U‐¹³C₃‐acetone‐saturated air onto a 30‐m DB‐1MS column in electron impact‐mode. Subjects ingested 30 ml ²H₂O, and plasma samples were collected. BW was determined by standard equation. Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scans were performed to calculate body mass, body volume and bone mineral content. A four‐compartmental model was used to estimate body composition (fat and fat free mass). Full‐scan experiments generated an m/z 45 peak and to a lesser extent an m/z 61 peak. Product fragment ions further monitored included 45 and 46 using selected ion monitoring (Method1), the 61 > 45 and 62 > 46 transition using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM; Method2) and the neutral loss, 62 > 45, transition (Method3). MRM methods were optimized for collision energy (CE) and collision‐induced dissociation (CID) argon gas pressure with 6 eV CE and 1.5 mTorr CID gas being optimal. Method2 was used for final determination of ²H₂O enrichment of subjects because of lower natural background. We have developed a sensitive method to determine ²H₂O enrichment in BW to enable measurement of FM and FFM. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.