title: Measurement of trimethylamine and trimethylamine N-oxide independently in urine by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.
abstract: We report a method based upon fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) and stable isotope dilution techniques for the measurement of urinary trimethylamine (TMA) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAOx). TMA is extracted from urine that was spiked with (15)N-labeled TMA. The extracted TMA isotopomers are quaternized with trideuteromethyl iodide and analyzed in FAB-MS with hexaethylene glycol as matrix. TMAOx is measured by evaporation of another sample of the urine spiked with (15)N-labeled TMAOx on the FAB probe and analyzed as for the TMA. The method allows the ready and simple distinguishing of controls and patients with TMAuria, and is useful in monitoring patients with the disorder. We give examples of its use in determining normal control ranges for these metabolites and in evaluating patients.
authors.affiliation: The Mass Spectrometry Unit, McGill University, 1130 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Canada H3A 1A3.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Mamer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Choinière
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Treacy
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D008744:Methylamines / Q000652:urine*; D012016:Reference Values; D016339:Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008744:Methylamines; C005855:trimethyloxamine; C023336:trimethylamine