a-Keto-b-Methylvaleric Acid is a B-Complex Vitamin Marker. Vitamins are compounds that your body needs to be healthy. Vitamins are “essential” for proper function, which means that they are not made inside your body and must be consumed in the diet. The B-complex vitamins are necessary for many enzymes in your body to function properly. Your body uses enzymes to extract energy from food, to build new tissue, to remove toxins, and to maintain the immune system. The branched-chain amino acids are broken down to form α-ketoisovalerate, α-ketoisocaproate, and α-keto-β-methylvalerate.
A dehydrogensase enzyme is needed for this step. Vitamins B1 , B2 , B3 , B5 , and lipoic acid are needed for this dehydrogenase to function properly. If these nutrients are insufficient, the keto acids may build up in the urine.
References:
- http://ctdbase.org/detail.go?type=chem&acc=C016211
- https://www.gdx.net/uk/core-uk/interpretive-guides-uk/Organix-IG.pdf
- http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095405411
a-Keto-b-methylvaleric Acid
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