Alteration in plasma free amino acid levels and its association with gout.
BACKGROUND
Studies on the association of plasma-free amino acids with gout are very limited and produced conflicting results. Therefore, we sought to explore and characterize the plasma-free amino acid (PFAA) profile in patients with gout and evaluate its association with the latter.


METHODS
Data from a total of 819 subjects (including 34 patients with gout) undergoing an annual health examination program in Shimane, Japan were considered for this study. Venous blood samples were collected from the subjects and concentrations of 19 plasma amino acids were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. Student's t-test was applied for comparison of variables between patient and control groups. The relationships between the presence or absence of gout and individual amino acids were investigated by logistic regression analysis controlling for the effects of potential demographic confounders.


RESULTS
Among 19 amino acids, the levels of 10 amino acids (alanine, glycine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, tryptophan, valine) differed significantly (P < .001 to .05) between the patient and control groups. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma levels of alanine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and valine had significant positive associations (P < .005 to .05) whereas glycine and serine had significant inverse association (P < .05) with gout.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed significant changes in PFAA profiles may have important implications for improving our understanding of pathophysiology, diagnosis and prevention of gout. The findings of this study need further confirmation in future large-scale studies involving a larger number of patients with gout.
['Mahbub|M H|MH|', 'Yamaguchi|Natsu|N|', 'Takahashi|Hidekazu|H|', 'Hase|Ryosuke|R|', 'Amano|Hiroki|H|', 'Kobayashi-Miura|Mikiko|M|', 'Kanda|Hideyuki|H|', 'Fujita|Yasuyuki|Y|', 'Yamamoto|Hiroshi|H|', 'Yamamoto|Mai|M|', 'Kikuchi|Shinya|S|', 'Ikeda|Atsuko|A|', 'Kageyama|Naoko|N|', 'Nakamura|Mina|M|', 'Ishimaru|Yasutaka|Y|', 'Sunagawa|Hiroshi|H|', 'Tanabe|Tsuyoshi|T|http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3427-9890']
D000367:Age Factors D000368:Aged D000428:Alcohol Drinking D000596:Amino Acids D015992:Body Mass Index D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid D005260:Female D006073:Gout D006801:Humans D007564:Japan D008297:Male D012044:Regression Analysis D012737:Sex Factors D012907:Smoking D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
Plasma Amino acids Gout Profile Relationship