Abstract: A method of high performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) was established for the determination of mannitol, monosaccharides (galactose, glucose, mannose and fructose) and lactulose in mouse urine. The samples were first centrifuged, and then filtered through molecular film to eliminate the proteins. The analysis was performed on a CarboPacTM PA1 column using gradient elution with water and 250 mmol/L sodium hydroxide as the mobile phase. All of the six carbohydrates had good linear relationships (0.988≤r2≤0.999) in the range of 0.1~5.0 mg/L. The recoveries were between 95.5% and 104.2% and the limits of detection were between 0.0013 and 0.004 8 mg/L. The method is accurate, fast and simple. It can be used to analyse six carbohydrates simultaneously and track the metabolic relationships among mannitol, monosaccharides and lactulose during the metabolism of the carbohydrates.

Key words: lactulose, mannitol, monosaccharide, pulsed amperometric detection, high performance anion exchange chromatography