Dihydroxyphenylpropionic Acid (DHPPA)

Optimal result: 0 – 5.3 mmol/mol creatinine

DHPPA in urine indicates intake of chlorogenic acid, a common substance in beverages and many fruits and vegetables. Harmless or beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, and E. coli increase the breakdown of chlorogenic acid to DHPPA so high values are mainly associated with increased amounts of these species in the GI tract.

Possible causes:

- Clostridium overgrowth and/ or malabsorption of tryptophan, tyrosine and/or phenlyalanine

Additional investigations:

- Investigate possible causes of malabsorption

- Intestinal Permeability

- IgG Food Sensitivity

- Complete Digestive Stool Analysis

Treatment considerations:

- Antimicrobials

- Probiotics

- Mucosal support

- Betaine HCl

Produced when Clostridia acts upon unabsorbed tryptophan, tyrosine or phenylalanine.

Alternative names:

Dihydroxyphenylpropionate

What is 3,4 Dihydroxyphenylpropionate?

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylpropionate seems to be strongly associated with a troublesome type of bacteria called Clostridia.

What is Clostridia?

This organism is frequently the cause of travelers diarrhea, but its by-products may produce other symptoms.

Clostridium species constitute a major portion of the bacteria of the lower ileum and colon. Being strictly anaerobic, they are difficult to culture from stool and are not reported on most stool cultures.

Cases of confirmed Clostridium overgrowth show elevated levels of Dihydroxyphenylpropionate, which fall to baseline with Flagyl treatment, but are unaffected by nystatin.

Further info on Dihydroxyphenylpropionate:

In health, beneficial intestinal bacteria produce some B-vitamins and provide stimulus for proper immune function. However, if your stomach acid is not adequate, if you fail to digest protein, or if your diet does not supply sufficient fiber, the resulting overgrowth of unfavorable bacteria can release toxic products that your body must remove. These toxic products include Dihydroxyphenylpropionate.

References:

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19152477
  • Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine, edited by Richard S. Lord, J. Alexander Bralley
Dihydroxyphenylpropionic Acid (DHPPA)
Healthmatters dashboard showing biomarker trend graph

Every lab result you’ve ever had, charted and explained.

Healthmatters is a tracker for your lab results. Upload a report from any lab, any country — every marker charted and explained.

Start with my report →
Beyond Dihydroxyphenylpropionic Acid (DHPPA) — 10,000+ markers explained
One Dihydroxyphenylpropionic Acid (DHPPA) result tells you where you are. Your history tells you where you’re heading. Upload your past lab reports and see this marker — and every marker on them —every marker charted against your own lab’s ranges.
Start with this report →
Healthmatters timeline preview showing biomarker trends over time
Clinical Sources & References

All our content is backed by peer-reviewed studies, academic research, and trusted medical sources. We’re committed to accuracy and transparency — see our editorial policy for details.

Article Review Log
Written by Healthmatters Editorial Team
Healthmatters Lifetime Plan

Pay $250. Track your health forever

One payment. No renewals. Yours for life.

10,000+ biomarkers explained · trends over time

See other plans →
Secure checkout via Stripe · GDPR & HIPAA
We accept results from any lab
LabCorp Quest Diagnostics Genova Diagnostics DUTCH Test Doctor's Data Vibrant America ZRT Laboratory Cyrex Labs + any other lab

What members are saying

★★★★★ 10,000+ happy members
★★★★★

"Watching my numbers move over the years — instead of forgetting last time's results — completely changed how I manage my health."

Daniel
Member since 2022
★★★★★

"Living across several countries made keeping my lab results organized a real challenge. Healthmatters brought my results from the USA, Spain, and Germany together — 20 years of history, with long-term trends instead of scattered reports."

Ben
Member since 2021 · tracks across countries
★★★★★

"Standard lab ranges are too wide for how I practice — 'normal' isn't optimal. I set my own bands, so a client sees yellow before a marker goes officially out of range. That's the conversation I want to be having."

Dr. Alexandra
Functional medicine · 6 yrs on Pro