Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric study of volatile organic metabolites in urines of patients with diabetes mellitus.

Abnormally increased concentrations of the aliphatic alcohols ethanol, n-propanol, isobutanol, n-butanol and isopentanol and the ketones 4-heptanone and cyclohexanone in human urine reflect metabolic disorders related to diabetes mellitus. For the determination of these low-molecular-weight metabolites, the components are trapped on an absorbent, separated by gas chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry. After standardization of the adsorption and desorption techniques, the procedure is applicable for comparative studies and for screening.