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The pattern of urinary acylcarnitines determined by electrospray mass spectrometry: a new tool in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus

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Abstract

l-Carnitine and its esters are products of intermediary metabolism of organisms. The distribution pattern or the favored excretion of individual acylcarnitines tells something about metabolic diseases. The determination of the urinary acylcarnitine pattern by flow injection analysis (FIA)–electrospray ionization (ESI)–mass spectrometry (MS) is presented. Groups of healthy probands and patients suffering from diabetes mellitus were investigated due to their significant acylcarnitine profile. The statistical analysis of data sets obtained clearly shows a difference in the acylcarnitine pattern of healthy and sick probands. In comparison to the controls, diabetes mellitus patients excrete more long-chain carnitine esters ranging from dodecanoyl to palmitoylcarnitine. Thus, the urinary acylcarnitine pattern determined by ESI–MS can be a useful tool in the diagnosis and therapy monitoring of diabetes mellitus.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

analysis of variance

ATP:

adenosine triphosphate

APCI:

atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

BMI:

body mass index

CoA:

coenzyme A

CPT:

carnitine palmitoyltransferase

ESI:

electrospray ionization

FIA:

flow injection analysis

LC:

long-chain

LC–FFA:

long-chain free fatty acid

LCA:

long-chain acylcarnitines

MALDI–TOF:

matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry

MCAD:

medium-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

MID:

multi ion detection

MCA:

medium-chain acylcarnitines

MS:

mass spectrometry

SCA:

short-chain acylcarnitines

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Acknowledgement

The authors thank Mrs Zirkler for performing the radiolabeled enzyme assay.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig–Halle, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 , Leipzig, Germany

    M. Möder & L. Brüggemann

  2. School of Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 27, 04103 , Leipzig, Germany

    A. Kießling & H. Löster

Authors
  1. M. Möder
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  2. A. Kießling
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  3. H. Löster
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  4. L. Brüggemann
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Correspondence to M. Möder.

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Möder, M., Kießling, A., Löster, H. et al. The pattern of urinary acylcarnitines determined by electrospray mass spectrometry: a new tool in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus . Anal Bioanal Chem 375, 200–210 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-002-1654-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-002-1654-7

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