Premium
Methylmalonic Acid Excretion Studies
Author(s) -
Chanarin I.,
England J. M.,
Mollin Caroline,
Perry Janet
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1973.tb01714.x
Subject(s) - methylmalonic acid , excretion , isoleucine , valine , medicine , methionine , endocrinology , vitamin b12 , urine , leucine , vitamin b , vitamin , chemistry , biochemistry , amino acid
S ummary . Oral valine and isoleucine were equally effective in producing an increased urinary excretion of methylmalonic acid (MMA) in vitamin B 12 deficiency but oral MMA itself, methionine and leucine were unsatisfactory. MMA excretion was increased in 16 out of 23 patients with vitamin B 12 deficiency after valine and/or isoleucine loading but remained normal in seven patients. These latter patients tended to have the highest serum vitamin B 12 levels and were the least anaemic. Thus, normal MMA excretion cannot be used as evidence to exclude vitamin B 12 deficiency. The excretion was within normal limits in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and in patients with folate deficiency.