title: Plasma alpha-amino-n-butyric acid/leucine ratio in alcoholics.
abstract: Fasting free amino acid concentrations in plasma of 20 control and 18 alcoholic subjects were compared in an attempt to validate previous reports that the molar ratio of alpha-amino-n-butyric acid/leucine (A/L ratio) is a marker for alcoholism. We were unable to confirm the observations of either altered alpha-amino-n-butyric acid or leucine concentrations or an increased A/L ratio in alcoholic subjects, and we conclude that the A/L ratio is not a biochemical marker for alcoholism.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000613:Aminobutyrates / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000613:Aminobutyrates; C012223:alpha-aminobutyric acid; D007930:Leucine