Amino Acid Profile, Qn, Plasma (LabCorp)
Diagnosis and monitoring of inherited aminoacidurias, organic acidurias, and urea cycle defects. May be used as a follow-up confirmatory test to some abnormal newborn screen results.
False-negative results can occur, especially when a patient is affected with a mild or intermittent variant of a disorder or when clinical condition or dietary treatment causes secondary changes to the profile. Results of amino acid profiling should be interpreted in the context of clinical presentation, as well as other laboratory tests. Frozen serum may be diagnostic, however, certain amino acids may be falsely elevated or low.
Alanine
Optimal range: 209.2 - 515.5 umol/L
Alanine is a non-essential amino acid and helps the body convert the simple sugar glucose into energy and eliminate excess toxins from the liver.
LEARN MOREAlloisoleucine
Optimal range: 0 - 3.2 umol/L
Allo-isoleucine is nearly undetectable in individuals not affected by maple-syrup urine disease (MSUD). Accordingly, its presence is diagnostic for MSUD, and its absence is sufficient to rule-out MSUD.
LEARN MOREAlpha-aminoadipate
Optimal range: 0 - 1.9 umol/L
Alpha-aminoadipic acid (a-Aminoadipic acid) is an intermediary metabolite of lysine (primarily) and of tryptophan.
LEARN MOREAlpha-aminobutyrate
Optimal range: 5.4 - 34.5 umol/L
Alpha amniobutyric acid (AABA), also known as Alpha-amino-N-butyric acid (A-ANB), is an intermediate formed during the catabolism of methionine and threonine. Increases in AABA occur secondary to elevations of either methionine or threonine. AABA becomes propionic acid via alpha-ketobutyric acid in the presence of adequate amounts of thiamin, vitamin B2(as FAD), vitamin B3(as NAD), lipoic acid and magnesium. Deficiencies of any of these, or vitamin B6, could cause increases in AABA. Elevated or decreased levels of the amino acid may indicate a congenital enzyme defect.
LEARN MOREArginine
Optimal range: 36.3 - 119.2 umol/L
Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid that is critical for your cardiovascular health and detoxification functions. The amino acid, arginine, is used to make the powerful blood vessel regulator, nitric oxide. Nitric oxide acts to lower blood pressure.
LEARN MOREArgininosuccinate
Optimal range: 0 - 3 umol/L
Argininosuccinate (aka Arginosuccinic acid) is a basic amino acid. Some cells synthesize it from citrulline, aspartic acid and use it as a precursor for arginine in the urea cycle or Citrulline-NO cycle. The enzyme that catalyzes the reaction is argininosuccinate synthetase. Argininosuccinic acid is a precursor to fumarate in the citric acid cycle via argininosuccinate lyase. Defects in the argininosuccinate lyase enzyme can lead to argininosuccinate lyase deficiency, which is an inborn error of metabolism.
LEARN MOREAsparagine
Optimal range: 29.5 - 84.5 umol/L
Asparagine is a protein amino acid. It is non-essential in humans, meaning the body can synthesize it.
Asparagine is synthesized from aspartate and glutamine. Asparagine has three major functions:
- incorporation into amino acid sequences of proteins
- storage form for aspartate (is a required precursor for synthesis of DNA, RNA and ATP)
- source of amino groups for production of other dispensable amino acids via Transaminases.
Aspartate
Optimal range: 0 - 7.4 umol/L
Aspartic acid is a nonessential amino acid that plays roles in many important metabolic processes, such as energy production (citric acid cycle), hormone metabolism, CNS activation, and the urea cycle. It is found in many protein sources such as oysters, meats, seeds, avocado, asparagus, and beets. It is also an ingredient in artificial sweeteners.
Aspartic acid is a precursor to many amino acids and other molecules like asparagine, arginine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, isoleucine, threonine, nucleotides, NAD, and pantothenate. Aspartate, like glutamine, can also be considered a neuroexcitatory neurotransmitter since it activates the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in the brain.
LEARN MOREBeta-alanine
Optimal range: 1.1 - 9 umol/L
Beta-alanine is is a non-essential amino acid.
What are amino acids?
Non-essential amino acids can be made by the body, so they don’t have to be provided by food. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
LEARN MOREBeta-aminoisobutyrate
Optimal range: 0 - 4.3 umol/L
Beta-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIB) is an amino acid end product of the pyrimidine metabolism. It is excreted in small quantities into the urine in almost all human beings. Thymine, released when RNA and DNA are degraded, enters a catabolic pathway that leads to Beta-Aminoisobutyric Acid.
LEARN MORECitrulline
Optimal range: 15.6 - 46.9 umol/L
The amino acid citrulline gets its name from its high concentration in the watermelon Citrullus vulgaris. In human kidneys, citrulline and aspartic acid are united by argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) to produce arginosuccinate. The degradation of arginosuccinate to fumarate and arginine is a primary mechanism for sustaining plasma levels of arginine. The same enzyme acts in liver cells to complete the urea cycle.
LEARN MORECystathionine
Optimal range: 0 - 0.7 umol/L
Cystathionine is an intermediary metabolite that is formed in the sequential enzymatic conversion of methionine to cysteine. Cystathionine is normally detected at very low levels in plasma. It is found between homocysteine and cysteine and is formed by the enzyme cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS).
LEARN MORECystine
Optimal range: 15.8 - 47.3 umol/L
Cystine is the oxidized disulfide form of cysteine (Cys) and is the predominant form of cysteine in the blood due to its greater relative stability. Cystine is derived from dietary protein and, end formed endogenously from cysteine.
LEARN MOREGamma-aminobutyrate
Optimal range: 0 - 0.6 umol/L
Gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the CNS and, as such, is important for balancing excitatory action of other neurotransmitters.
LEARN MOREGlutamate
Optimal range: 18.1 - 155.9 umol/L
Glutamate functions as the major excitatory neurotransmitter and metabolic fuel throughout the body. Glutamate is produced in your body, and is also found in many foods.
LEARN MOREGlutamine
Optimal range: 372.8 - 701.4 umol/L
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the blood and is an important source of energy for many tissues in the body. It is derived from the amino acids histidine and glutamic acid.
LEARN MOREGlycine
Optimal range: 144 - 411 umol/L
Glycine is an amino acid with various important functions within your body, including detoxification, DNA formation, the synthesis of hemoglobin, and as a part of brain neurotransmission pathways. Glycine and serine are interchangeable.
LEARN MOREHistidine
Optimal range: 47.2 - 98.5 umol/L
Histidine is a semi-essential amino acid which is formed in the breakdown of carnosine. Red meat is a common source of carnosine, and therefore histadine. Other food sources include poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, and grains. Histidine and histamine have a unique relationship. The amino acid histadine becomes histamine via a vitamin B6- dependent enzyme called histidine decarboxylase.
LEARN MOREHomocitrulline
Optimal range: 0 - 1.7 umol/L
The amino acid homocitrulline is a metabolite of ornithine in human metabolism.
The amino acid can be detected in larger amounts in the urine of individuals with urea cycle disorders. Both amino acids can be detected in urine. Amino acid analysis allows for the quantitative analysis of these amino acid metabolites in biological fluids such as urine, blood, plasma or proteins.
LEARN MOREHomocystine
Optimal range: 0 - 0.2 umol/L
Homocystine is a common amino acid in your blood. You get it mostly from eating meat. High levels of it are linked to early development of heart disease.
LEARN MOREHydroxylysine
Optimal range: 0.1 - 0.8 umol/L
Hydroxylysine is an amino acid related to collagen.
What is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It is the major component of connective tissues that make up several body parts, including tendons, ligaments, skin and muscles.
LEARN MOREHydroxyproline
Optimal range: 4.7 - 35.2 umol/L
Hydroxyproline is a collagen related amino acid. Hydroxyproline is a nonessential amino acid, which means that it is manufactured from other amino acids in the liver. Hydroxyproline is necessary for the construction of the body’s major structural protein, collagen. Hydroxyproline is present in essentially all tissues and all genetic types of collagen.
LEARN MOREIsoleucine
Optimal range: 32.8 - 88.3 umol/L
Isoleucine is one of the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) alongside both leucine and valine.
Isoleucine is a common component of proteins, peptides and hormones. Leucine is catabolized as a source of carbon for energy production during exercise in skeletal muscle.
LEARN MORELeucine
Optimal range: 66.7 - 165.7 umol/L
Leucine, together with isoleucine and valine, are essential amino acids that are referred to as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).
Leucine is nutritionally essential and is required for formation of body proteins, enzymes and some hormones. Leucine itself has a hormone-like activity which is stimulation of pancreatic release of insulin. The branched-chain structure of leucine makes it very important for the formation of flexible collagen tissues, particularly elastin in ligaments. Leucine is relatively abundant in all protein foods.
LEARN MORELysine
Optimal range: 94 - 278 umol/L
Lysine is found in great quantities in muscle tissues, stimulates calcium absorption, carnitine synthesis, and growth and repair of muscle tissue.
LEARN MOREMethionine
Optimal range: 14.7 - 35.2 umol/L
Methionine is an essential amino acid, meaning we need to get it from our diet as our body does not produce it. Methionine is a unique sulfur-containing amino acid that can be used to build proteins and produce many molecules in the body.
LEARN MOREOrnithine
Optimal range: 30.1 - 101.3 umol/L
Ornithine is a urea cycle metabolite.
Ornithine can stimulate the release of growth hormone. Growth hormone is necessary for tissue repair and growth. Growth hormone is often low in patients with fibromyalgia.
LEARN MOREPhenylalanine
Optimal range: 35.8 - 76.9 umol/L
Phenylalanine is a precursor for the amino acid tyrosine, which is essential for making neurotransmitters (e.g. epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine) and thyroid hormone. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that communicate between nerve cells in the brain. It can relieve pain, alleviate depression, and suppress the appetite. Low levels may indicate a stressful lifestyle, leading to memory loss, fatigue, and depression.
LEARN MOREProline
Optimal range: 84.8 - 352.5 umol/L
Proline is a nonessential amino acid, which means that it is manufactured from other amino acids in the liver; it does not have to be obtained directly through the diet.
Proline is the precursor to hydroxyproline, which is a major amino acid found in the connective tissue of the body – collagen.
LEARN MORESarcosine
Optimal range: 0 - 4 umol/L
Sarcosine is also known as N-methylglycine. It is an intermediate and byproduct in the glycine synthesis and degradation. Sarcosine is metabolized to glycine by the enzyme sarcosine dehydrogenase, while glycine-N-methyl transferase generates sarcosine from glycine.
LEARN MORESerine
Optimal range: 48.7 - 145.2 umol/L
Serine is a nonessential amino acid used in protein biosynthesis and can be derived from four possible sources: dietary intake, degradation of protein and phospholipids, biosynthesis from glycolysis intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate, or from glycine.
Serine is found in soybeans, nuts, eggs, lentils, shellfish, and meats. Serine is used to synthesize ethanolamine and choline for phospholipids. Serine is essential for the synthesis of sphingolipids and phosphatidylserine in CNS neurons. In the folate cycle, glycine and serine are interconverted. These methyltransferase reactions and interconversions are readily reversible depending on the needs of the folate cycle. Dietary serine is not fully converted to glycine; therefore, serine supplementation has little value, though is not harmful.
LEARN MORETaurine
Optimal range: 29.2 - 132.3 umol/LThreonine
Optimal range: 67.8 - 211.6 umol/L
Threonine is an essential amino acid, i.e., it is vital for your health, but it cannot be synthesized by your body and therefore has to be obtained from a diet.
LEARN MORETryptophan
Optimal range: 23.5 - 93 umol/L
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid required for the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
LEARN MORETyrosine
Optimal range: 27.8 - 83.3 umol/L
Tyrosin is the non-essential amino acid precursor for dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. Tyrosine hydroxylase converts tyrosine into the dopamine precursor L-DOPA; BH4, Vitamin D and iron are cofactors for that enzymatic activity.
LEARN MOREValine
Optimal range: 133 - 317.1 umol/L
Valine, together with Isoleucine and Leucine are essential amino acids and are collectively referred to as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).
LEARN MORE