Identification of 8-dehydrocholesterol (cholesta-5,8-dien-3 beta-ol) in patients with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

Abstract

Cholesta-5,8-dien-3 beta-ol (8-dehydrocholesterol) and cholesta-5,7-dien-3 beta-ol (7-dehydrocholesterol) were isolated from the fecal neutral sterol fraction from homozygotes with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. The structures of the sterols were conclusively established from their mass spectra and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. It is probable that 8-dehydrocholesterol arises from 7-dehydrocholesterol and is not a direct precursor of cholesterol.