ABNORMAL GLYCINE BETAINE CONTENT OF THE BLOOD AND URINE OF DIABETIC AND RENAL PATIENTS

In normal human plasma the concentrations of the renal osmolyte, glycine betaine, are usually between 20 and 70 mu mol/l, in adult males (median 44 mu mol/l) higher than in females 34 mu mol/l). Concentrations are lower in renal disease (median 28 mu mol/l) and normal in diabetes. Urinary excretion of glycine betaine shows no sex difference and is frequently elevated both in renal disease and in diabetes (medians: normal, 6.2, renal 12.3 and diabetes, 39.7 mmol/mol creatinine). The elevation in diabetes does not strongly correlate with known renal disease, nor with either urinary microalbumin or plasma creatinine. There is no correlation with glycated haemoglobin. The positive correlation with the excretions of another renal osmolyte, sorbitol, was highly significant in diabetic subjects. In the diabetic group there was also a significant negative correlation between plasma glycine betaine and urine microalbumin.