Urinary D-glucaric acid, a marker substance for microsomal enzyme induction. Methodological aspects, responses to alcohol and findings in workers exposed to toluene.
D-glucaric acid, an end product of glucuronic acid metabolism, has been used as a marker substance for microsomal enzyme induction. In this study a convenient microtitre-plate based method for the quantification of urinary D-glucaric acid has been developed and validated. Mean urinary D-glucaric acid excretion in 20 health humans as measured by this method was 3.2 mumol glucaric acid mmol-1 creatinine, 95% confidence interval 3.0-3.4. Moderate alcohol consumption in 18 healthy volunteers did not significantly augment the urinary D-glucaric acid excretion. Occupational exposition to toluene in a printing plant was investigated. In spite of considerable intra- and inter-individual variability, a significant difference between exposed (3.5, 3.1-3.9) and non-exposed (2.6, 2.2-3.0) workers was observed, p < 0.025. We conclude that the measurement of D-glucaric acid can be utilized for biological screening of enzyme induction on a group basis.
Sandstad
O
O
Department of Internal Medicine, Ullevål Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Osnes
T
T
Skar
V
V
Osnes
M
M
D000328:Adult; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005937:Glucaric Acid / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014050:Toluene; D000431:Ethanol; D005937:Glucaric Acid