Abstract
Introduction
Free asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a competitive inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthases (NOS). Suppression of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis increases the risk of atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, in the condition of oxidative stress, NOS blockade by ADMA may exert protective effects. Protein metabolism is altered in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) on dietary treatment and as shown recently, oxidative stress is high in PKU. Since free ADMA concentrations are determined by both protein metabolism and oxidative stress we hypothesized, that free ADMA levels may be elevated in PKU patients.
Design
Sixteen patients with PKU on dietary treatment (mean age 10.1 ± 5.2 yrs), and 91 healthy children (mean age 11.6 ± 3.7 yrs) participated in a cross sectional study.
Results
ADMA, total homocysteine (tHcy) and blood glucose were lower and the L-arginine/ADMA ratio was higher in PKU patients compared to controls. No significant correlation was present between phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations, protein intake, and lipid profile, history of cardiovascular disease or ADMA.
Discussion
In contrast to our hypothesis, ADMA was lower and the L-arginine/ADMA ratio was higher in PKU patients. Therefore, in PKU patients, the regulating function of ADMA on NO synthesis is altered and may thus contribute to oxidative stress.
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Abbreviations
- ADMA:
-
asymmetric dimethylarginine
- CVD:
-
cardiovascular disease
- DDAH:
-
dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase
- HDL:
-
high density lipoprotein
- NOS:
-
nitric oxide synthase(s)
- NO:
-
nitric oxide
- Phe:
-
phenylalanine
- PKU:
-
phenylketonuria
- tHcy:
-
total homocysteine
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Acknowledgements
We are indebted to all study participants and their families, to the Dept. of Anesthesia and ENT at the Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch, to the participating Pediatricians and Mrs. Helbok-Blum for their support. We gratefully acknowledge the Federal Government of Vorarlberg for financial support of our work.
Details of funding
The work has been funded by the Federal Government of Vorarlberg, Austria. The authors confirm independence from the sponsors; the content of the article has not been influenced by the sponsors.
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Communicated by: K. Michael Gibson
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Huemer, M., Simma, B., Mayr, D. et al. Free asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is low in children and adolescents with classical phenylketonuria (PKU). J Inherit Metab Dis 35, 817–821 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10545-011-9448-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10545-011-9448-8