Other names: Kynurenate
A breakdown product from kynurenine via kynurenine aminotransferases (KAT)
Kynurenic Acid is product of the metabolism of L-Tryptophan and appears in urine in Vitamin B6 deficiencies. Your body needs vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) to utilize amino acids derived from dietary protein. Inadequate vitamin B6 is one factor that leads to increased concentrations of kynurenate and xanthurenate in urine. These products of amino acid breakdown cannot be further metabolized in the absence of vitamin B6.
- Elevated kynurenine, kynurenic acid, xanthurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and a high KYN/TRP ratio seen in metabolic syndrome.
- In animal studies exercise-induced conversion to kynurenic acid was seen.
- Alcoholic B3-deficient patients had increased kynurenic acid, and decreased xanthurenic acid and quinolinic acid.
- Urine levels of citric acid, hippuric acid, p-cresol, 2-aminobutyrate, putrescine, and kynurenic acid, were able to discriminate colorectal cancer patients from healthy controls. Kynurenic acid was lower in patients.
- In a mathematical model without a tryptophan load, a moderate B6 deficiency resulted in slight decreases in kynurenic.
Research shows that kynurenic acid is low with a low protein diet and in autism spectrum disorder.
Low kynurenic acid is implicated in depression, headaches, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.
References:
- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140820
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27904735/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25124710/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29109914/
- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0172699
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- A high reading of this by-product of the breakdown of the amino acid tryptophan is consistent with a vitamin B6 deficiency, possible inflammatory processes, interferon-gamma stimulated macrophages or excessive tryptophan supplementation (not 5-HTP).
- Abnormally high levels can cause and increase in pain sensations and may, in multiple sclerosis patients, be a marker for an exacerbation period.
- Vitamin B6 deficiency may also result in elevated concentrations of homocysteine in blood, which leads to increased risk of heart disease.
- High levels of Kynurenic Acid can have direct effects on brain function in addition to showing a need for vitamin B6.
- High values in individuals with the yeast overgrowth syndrome may be due to yeast interference.
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1-Methylhistidine, 1-Methylhistidine (Plasma), 2-,3-, and 4-Methylhippuric acid, 2-Methylhippuric Acid, 2-Methylsuccinic Acid, 3,4-Dihydroxyhydrocinnamic Acid, 3,5-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid, 3-Methylhistidine (Plasma), 3-Phenylpropionylglycine, 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid, 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic Acid, 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid, 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, a-Hydroxybutyric Acid, a-Keto-b-methylvaleric Acid, a-Ketobutyric Acid, a-Ketoglutaric Acid, a-Ketoisocaproic Acid, a-Ketoisovaleric Acid, a-Aminoadipic Acid (Plasma), Adipic Acid, Alanine, Alanine (Plasma), Aldosterone, Anserine (Plasma), Anthranilic Acid, Arabinitol, Arginine (Plasma), Arginosuccinic Acid, Arginosuccinic Acid (Plasma), Asparagine (Plasma), Aspartic Acid (Plasma), b-Hydroxybutyric Acid, b-Hydroxyisovaleric Acid, b-Alanine (Plasma), Benzoic Acid, Benzoylform, Branched Chain Alpha-Keto Organic Acids, Carnosine, Carnosine (Plasma), cis-Aconitic Acid, Citric Acid, Citrulline (Plasma), Cortisol, Cortisone, Creatinine, Cystathionine (Plasma), Cystine (Plasma), D-Lactic Acid, Equol, Ethanolamine (Plasma), Ethylmalonic Acid, Formiminoglutamic Acid, Fructose, Fumaric Acid, g-Aminobutyric Acid (Plasma), Glucaric Acid, Glucose, Glutamic Acid (Plasma), Glutamine (Plasma), Glutamine / Glutamate Ratio (Plasma), Glutaric Acid, Glycine (Plasma), Glycylproline (Plasma), Hexanoylglycine, Hippuric Acid, Histidine (Plasma), Homocitrulline (Plasma), Homocystine (Plasma), Homogentisic Acid, Homovanillic Acid, Hydroxykynurenine, Hydroxyproline, Hydroxyproline (Plasma), Indoleacetic Acid, Isocitric Acid, Isoleucine/allo-Isoleucine (Plasma), KT Ratio (Plasma), Kynurenic Acid, Kynurenine (Plasma), Lactic Acid, Leucine (Plasma), Lysine (Plasma), Malic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Methionine (Plasma), Methylmalonic Acid, Microalbumin, Ornithine, Ornithine (Plasma), Orotic Acid, Oxalic Acid, pH, Phenylacetic Acid, Phenylalanine (Plasma), Phosphate, Phosphoethanolamine (Plasma), Picolinic Acid, Pimelic Acid, Proline (Plasma), Pyridoxic Acid, Pyroglutamic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Quercetin, Quinolinic Acid, Sarcosine (Plasma), Sebacic Acid, Serine (Plasma), Suberic Acid, Suberylglycine, Succinic Acid, Sulfocysteine (Plasma), Tartaric Acid, Taurine (Plasma), Threonine (Plasma), Total Branched Chain Amino Acids (Plasma), Tryptophan (Plasma), Tyrosine (Plasma), Valine (Plasma), Vannilylmandelic Acid, Xanthurenic Acid
