Related Experiment Videos
Evaluation of delta-aminolaevulinic acid excretion in random urine samples of children
1Department of Analytical and Clinical Chemistry, National Institute of Occupational Health, Budapest, Hungary.
Insights
Urinary delta-aminolaevulinic acid (delta-ALA) excretion in children is age-dependent. A new ratio, delta-ALA/log creatinine, offers a reliable, age-independent measure for assessing delta-ALA levels in random urine samples.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Urinary delta-aminolaevulinic acid (delta-ALA) is a biomarker for lead exposure and heme synthesis disorders.
- Assessing delta-ALA excretion in children using random urine samples can be challenging due to age-related variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate urinary delta-aminolaevulinic acid (delta-ALA) excretion in healthy children.
- To identify an age-independent method for assessing delta-ALA levels in random urine samples.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed random urine samples from 191 healthy children aged 2-14 years.
- Measured blood lead levels, erythrocyte zinc-protoporphyrin, and blood hemoglobin.
- Evaluated uncorrected delta-ALA concentration, delta-ALA/creatinine ratio, and delta-ALA/log creatinine ratio.
Main Results:
- Uncorrected delta-ALA concentration and delta-ALA/creatinine ratio showed age-dependency.
- The ratio of delta-ALA/logarithm of creatinine concentration was independent of age and sex.
- This age-independent parameter had a mean +/- SD of 55.3 +/- 13.5 mumol/log mmol.
Conclusions:
- The delta-ALA/log creatinine ratio is a reliable and age-independent biomarker for assessing delta-ALA excretion in children's random urine samples.
- This method simplifies the assessment of potential lead exposure or heme synthesis issues in pediatric populations.
- The study recommends using the delta-ALA/log creatinine ratio for routine pediatric assessments.
Abstract:
Urinary delta-aminolaevulinic acid (delta-ALA) excretion was evaluated in random urine samples of 191 healthy children, aged 2-14 years, with blood lead levels < 0.8 mumol/l (mean +/- SD: 0.34 +/- 0.13), erythrocyte zinc-protoporphyrin < 70 mumol/mol haem (mean +/- SD: 50.4 +/- 8.0) and blood haemoglobin > 6.8 mmol/l (mean +/- SD: 8.2 +/- 0.5). It was found that uncorrected delta-ALA concentration and delta-ALA/creatinine ratio are age-dependent, whereas the ratio of delta-ALA/logarithm of creatinine concentration (mean +/- SD: 55.3 +/- 13.5 mumol/log mmol) is independent of age and sex. The authors recommend the use of this parameter for the assessment of delta-ALA excretion in random urine samples in children.