Hippuric Acid Test Using 13C-Labelling and NMR Spectroscopy

• Published in: Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 215 - 217
• Main Authors: Akira, Kazuki, Hashimoto, Takao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Walter de Gruyter 01.03.2001; New York, NY
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Benzoic Acid - administration & dosage; Benzoic Acid - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Isotopes - analysis; Digestive system; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Hippurates - metabolism; Hippurates - urine; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Liver - metabolism; Liver Function Tests; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Benzoic acid; Human; Urine; Excretion; Energy metabolism; Biochemical analysis; Hippuric acid; Healthy subject; Isotope labelling; Digestive system; Liver; Carbon Isotopes; Exploration; NMR spectrometry; Loading test; Liver function; Clinical biology; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 1434-6621
• DOI: 10.1515/CCLM.2001.033

This article describes a 13C-labelling and nuclear magnetic resonance approach for hippuric acid test which is potentially useful for evaluating liver reserve. In this approach, urine samples collected after ingestion of 13C-labelled benzoic acid were directly analysed by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the excreted 13C-labelled hippuric acid formed from the administered benzoic acid was quantitated. The amount of labelled hippuric acid excreted in a specified time can be a useful index of liver reserve. In this study, the feasibility of the nuclear magnetic resonance approach has been investigated in several healthy subjects. This approach is simple and convenient compared with conventional analytical procedures, because no chromatographic separation is required. The approach could give new insights into the liver reserve, because the benzoic acid conversion to hippuric acid intimately relates to the hepatic energy metabolism. This measurement can be conducted at a wide range of dosages without interference from endogenous hippuric acid.