In some cases, for most of the chromatography techniques, area and height of resulting peak for the molecule of interest may not be in a strong correlation. I mean you may observe relatively high area with relatively low height and this indicates the peak broadening. Thereby, it can enable to predict the chromatographic peak broadening and peak efficiency. Altering chromatographic conditions, repeatability performance for single compound between the analytical runs and comparison of the peak efficiencies for different molecules can be evaluated by using this row. On the other hand, as more critical aspect, it can also indicate the peak purity. For a pure substance the area/height is constant under the certain and invariable analytical conditions. Due to the matrix effect, a co-elution can be observed and with the same or very close mass transition the molecule of interest may give the different area/height ratio from expected due the co-eluting impurity. In summary, this ratio maybe considered as a kind of numeric report that belongs to chromatographic peak purity.

Dear German,

In simple words - these values represent a relative abundance of a correspondent metabolite.

Is it the optimal way to represent abundances? Not always, due to reasons described in the previous reply. But often it does provide needed information. Particularly if you have received these results from a service lab that likely optimised their LC-MS/MS conditions, and uses this way routinely.

Among that, the pure concentration and types of molecular structure of analyte could be proposed. Sometimes, the existence of the uncontrolled conditions also affects. For example, disorder in the column performance or inadequate precision of researcher in the preparation of the solution fractionation process. Of course, the raised cases are happened, rarely.