Improved analytical sensitivity reveals the occurrence of gender-related variability in diamine oxidase enzyme activity in healthy individuals.
OBJECTIVE
Serum diamine oxidase (DAO; EC 1.4.3.6) activity is often employed as a clinical indicator of the integrity of intestinal mucosa. However, interindividual variation in enzyme activity and reference values for healthy women and men have not been studied.


METHODS
DAO activity was measured by using cadaverine coupled to O-dianisidine oxidation in 50 healthy individuals.


RESULTS
The mean activity was 7.59+/-3.67 U/L for women and 2.38+/-0.71 U/L for men (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Gender is a major determinant for DAO activity in healthy subjects.
García-Martín
Elena
E
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. de Elvas s/n, 06071-Badajoz, Spain. elenag@unex.es
Ayuso
Pedro
P
Martínez
Carmen
C
Agúndez
José A G
JA
D000328:Adult; D006631:Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D002103:Cadaverine / Q000378:metabolism; D003962:Dianisidine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012737:Sex Factors