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Updated: May 25, 2026

Characterization of Metabolic Status in Nonhuman Primates with the Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test
Published on: November 13, 2016
Urinary endogenous concentrations of GHB and its isomers in healthy humans and diabetics
Noriaki Shima1, Akihiro Miki, Tooru Kamata
1Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ward, Osaka 541-0053, Japan. nori6499@amber.plala.or.jp
Abstract:
Urinary endogenous concentrations of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), alpha-hydroxybutyric acid (AHB) and beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) have been investigated for both healthy humans and diabetics by using a newly optimized GC-MS procedure. The endogenous concentrations in healthy volunteers' urine ranged 0.16-2.14 microg/ml for GHB, 0.10-2.68 microg/ml for AHB and 8.51-34.7 microg/ml for BHB. In diabetics, the concentrations ranged 0.17-3.03 microg/ml for GHB, 0.14-124 microg/ml for AHB and 4.94-4520 microg/ml for BHB. Although notably elevated BHB and AHB concentrations were observed for severely uncontrolled diabetics, their GHB concentrations ranged within or near the range seen in healthy humans. The results of this study confirm the previously suggested 10 microg/ml cutoff concentration of urinary GHB to distinguish exogenous GHB, even for uncontrolled diabetic patients suffering severe ketoacidosis.
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