Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Tryptophan Load Test as an Index of Vitamin B-6 Nutrition

  • Chapter
Methods in Vitamin B-6 Nutrition

Abstract

The amino acid tryptophan was first isolated as the chromogenic substance in tryptic digests of proteins (1). Since that time, naturally occurring L-tryptophan has been shown to be one of the indispensable amino acids having a number of important biological functions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Literature Cited

  1. Hopkins, F. G. Cole, S. W. (1901) A contribution to the chemistry of proteids. Part I. A preliminary study of a hitherto undescribed product of tryptic digestion. J. Physiol. 27, 418–428.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Reynolds, M. S. (1957) Amino acid requirements of adults. J. Am. Dietet. Assoc. 33, 1015–1018.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Rose, W. C., Lambert, G. F. Coon, M. J. (1954) The amino acid requirements of man. VII. General procedures; the tryptophan requirement. J. Biol. Chem. 211, 815–827.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Horwitt, M. K., Harvey, C. C., Rothwell, W. S., Cutler, J. L. Haffron, D. (1956) Tryptophan-niacin relationships in man. Studies with diets deficient in riboflavin and niacin, together with observations on the excretion of nitrogen and niacin metabolites. J. Nutr., Suppl. 1, 60, 1–43.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Goldsmith, G. A., Miller, 0. N. Unglaub, W. G. (1961) Efficiency of tryptophan as a niacin precursor in man. J. Nutr. 73, 172–176.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Nakagawa, I., Takahashi, T., Suzuki, T. Masana, Y. (1969) Effect in man of the addition of tryptophan or niacin to the diet on the excretion of their metabolites. J. Nutr. 99, 325–330.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Patterson, J. I. (1979) Conversion of tryptophan to nicotinamide in the human and the rat. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Wisconsin, Madison.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Vivian, V. M., Brown, R. R., Price, J. M. Reynolds, M. S. (1966) Some aspects of tryptophan and niacin metabolism in young women consuming a low tryptophan diet supplemented with niacin. J. Nutr. 88, 93–99.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kim, J. H. Miller, L. L. (1969) The functional significance of changes in activity of the enzymes, tryptophan pyrrolase and tyrosine transaminase, after induction in intact rats and in isolated perfused rat liver. J. Biol. Chem. 244, 1410–1416.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Milholland, R. J. Rosen, F. (1971) The role of tryptophan pyrrolase adaptation in the excretion of xanthurenic acid by rats deficient in vitamin B-6. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 24, 740–746.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Brown, R. R. Price, J. M. (1956) Quantitative studies on metabolites of tryptophan in the urine of the dog, cat, rat, and man. J. Biol. Chem. 219, 985–997.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Allegri, G., Costa, C. De Antoni, A. (1978) A further contribution to the choice of the dose for L-tryptophan load test. Acta Vitamin. Enzymol. 32, 163–166.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Costa, C., De Antoni, A., Allegri, G. Vanzan, S. (1979) Studies on the tryptophan load test in man. La Ricerca Clin. Lab. 9, 165–175.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Evans, G. W. Johnson, E. C. (1979) Zinc absorption in rats fed varying levels of vitamin B-6 and a vitamin B-6 antagonist. Clin. Res. 27, 682A.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kotake, Y. Murakami, E. (1971) A possible diabetogenic role for trypotphan metabolites and effects of xanthurenic acid on insulin. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 24, 826–829.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Carlson, J. R., Yokoyama, M. T. Dickinson, E. 0. (1972) Induction of pulmonary edema and emphysema in cattle and goats with 3-methylindole. Science 176, 298–299.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bungeler, W. (1932) Die experimentalle erzengung von leukamie und lymphosarcom durch chronische indolvergifting der maus. Frankfurter A. Pathol. 44, 202–271.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ehrhart, H: Stitch, W. (1957) Untersuchungen über experimentalleukamien. II. Die indol-leukamie bei der weissen maus. Klin. Wochschr. 35, 504–511.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Butenandt, A., Weidel, W. Schlossberger, H. (1949) 3-Oxykynurenine als en-gen-abhangiges glied im intermediaren tryptophan-stoffwechsel. Z. Naturforsch. 4B, 242–244.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kido, R., Nishino, M. Tsuda, H. (1971) Studies on the mechanism of tryptophan induction of certain hepatic enzymes. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 24, 766–769.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Triebwasser, K. C., Swan, P. B., Henderson, L. M. Budny, J. A. (1976) Metabolism of D- and L-tryptophan in dogs. J. Nutr. 106, 642–652.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lepkovsky, S., Roboz, E. Haagen-Smit, A. J. (1943) Xanthurenic acid and its role in the tryptophan metabolism of pyridoxine-deficient rats. J. Biol. Chem. 149, 195–201.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Miller, E. C. Baumann, C. A. (1945) Relative effects of casein and tryptophan on the health and xanthurenic acid excretion of pyridoxine-deficient mice. J. Biol. Chem. 157, 551–562.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Satoh, K. Price, J. M. (1958) Fluorometric determination of kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid in human urine. J. Biol. Chem. 230, 781–789.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Dalgliesh, C. E. (1952) The relation between pyridoxine and tryptophan metabolism, studied in the rat. Biochem. J. 52, 3–14.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Yess, N., Price, J. M., Brown, R. R., Swan, P. B. Linkswiler, H. (1964) Vitamin B-6 depletion in man: Urinary excretion of tryptophan metabolites. J. Nutr. 84, 229–236.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Price, J. M., Brown, R. R. Larson, F. C. (1957) Quantitative studies on human urinary metabolites of tryptophan as affected by isoniazid and deoxypyridoxine. J. Clin. Invest. 36, 1600–1607.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Komrower, G. M., Wilson, V., Clamp, J. R. Westall, R. G. (1964) Hydroxykynureninuria. A case of abnormal tryptophan metabolism probably due to a deficiency of kynureninase. Arch. Disease Childhood 39, 250–256.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Ogasawara, N., Hagino, Y. Kotake, Y. (1962) Kynureninetransaminase, kynureninase and the increase in xanthurenic acid excretion. J. Biochem. ( Tokyo ) 52, 162–166.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Ueno, Y., Hayaishi, K. Shukuya, R. 71963) Kynurenine transaminase from horse kidney. J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 54, 75–80.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Henderson, L. M. Hulse, J. D. (1978) Vitamin B-6 relationship in tryptophan metabolism. In: Human Vitamin B-6 Requirements, pp. 21–36. Nat. Acad. Sci., Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Rosen, F., Huff, J. W. Perlzweig, A. (1947) The role of B-6 deficiency in the tryptophane-niacin relationships in rats. J. Nutr. 33, 561–567.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Henderson, L. M., Weinstock, I. M. Ramasarma, G. B. (1951) Effect of deficiency of B vitamins on the metabolism of tryptophan by the rat. J. Biol. Chem. 189, 19–29.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Brown, R. R., Yess, N., Price, J. M., Linkswiler, H., Swan, P. Hankes, L. V. (1965) Vitamin B-6 depletion in man: Urinary excretion of quinolinic acid and niacin metabolites. J. Nutr. 87, 419–423.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Yeh, J. K-J. (1974) Nutritional factors affecting the conversion of tryptophan to niacin. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Wisconsin, Madison.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Knox, W. E. (1951) Two mechanisms which increase in vivo the liver tryptophan peroxidase activity: Specific enzyme adaptation and stimulation of the pituitary-adrenal system. Brit. J. Exptl. Pathol. 32, 462–469.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Schimke, R. T., Sweeny, E. W. Berlin, C. M. (1964) An analysis of the kinetics of rat liver tryptophan pyrrolase induction. The significance of both enzyme synthesis and degradation. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 15, 214–219.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Rose, D. P. McGinty, F. (1968) The influence of adrenocortical hormones and vitamins upon tryptophan metabolism in man. Clin. Sci. 35, 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Wolf, H. (1973) The effect of hydrocortisone and tryptophan load on the metabolism of tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. Suppl. 36, 77–87.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Altman, K. Greengard, 0. (1966) Correlation of kynurenine excretion with liver tryptophan pyrrolase levels in disease and after hydrocortisone induction. J. Clin. Invest. 45, 1527–1534.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Gailani, S., Murphy, G., Kenny, G., Nussabaum, A. Silvernail, P. (1973) Studies on tryptophan metabolism in patients with bladder cancer. Cancer Res. 33, 1071–1077.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Wolf, H., Walter, S., Brown, R. R. Arend, R. A. (1980) Effect of natural oestrogens on tryptophan metabolism: Evidence for interference of oestrogens with kynureninase. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. 40, 15–21.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Hankes, L. V., Brown, R. R., Leklem, Q., Schmaeler, M. Jesseph, J. (1972) Metabolism of C1 labeled enantiomers of tryptophan, kynurenine and hydroxykynurenine in humans with scleroderma. J. Invest. Derm. 58, 85–95.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Brown, R. R. (1975) Twenty years of tryptophan studies in humans. Acta Vitamin. Enzymol. 29, 12–16.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Price, J. M., Brown, R. R. Yess, N. (1965) Testing the functional capacity of the tryptophan niacin pathway in man by analysis of urinary metabolites. Advan. Metab. Disor. 2, 159–225.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Arend, R. A., Leklem, J. E. Brown, R. R. (1970) Direct and steam distillation autoanalyzer methods for assay of diazotizable aromatic amine metabolites of tryptophan in urine and in serum. Biochem. Med. 4, 457–468.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Leklem, J. E., Brown, R. 1T., Rose, D. P., Linkswiler, H. Arend, R. A. (1975) Metabolism of tryptophan and niacin in oral contraceptive users receiving controlled intakes of vitamin B-6. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 28, 146–156.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Brown, R. R., Rose, D. P., Leklem, J. E., Linkswiler, H. Anand, R. (1975) Urinary 4-pyridoxic acid, plasma pyridoxal phosphate, and erythrocyte aminotransferase levels in oral contraceptive users receiving controlled intakes of vitamin B-6. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 28, 10–19.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Shane, B. (1978) Vitamin B-6 and blood. In: Human Vitamin B-6 Requirements, pp. 111–128, Nat. Acad. Sci., Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Shane, B. Contractor, S. F. (1980) Vitamin B-6 status and metabolism in pregnancy. In: Vitamin B-6 Metabolism and Role in Growth ( Tryfiates, G. P., ed.), pp. 137–171, Food and Nutrition Press, Inc., Westport, Connecticut.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Linkswiler, H. M. (1978) Vitamin B-6 requirements of men. In: Human Vitamin B-6 Requirements, pp. 279–290, Nat. Acad. Sci., Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Leklem, J. E., Rose, D. P. Brown, R. R. (1973) Effects of oral contraceptives on urinary metabolite excretions after administration of L-tryptophan or L-kynurenine sulfate. Metabolism 22, 1499–1505.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Hansson, 0. (1969) Tryptophan loading and pyridoxine treatment in children with epilepsy. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 166, 306–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Braidman, I. P. Rose, D. P. (1971) Effects of sex hormones on three glucocorticoid-inducible enzymes concerned with amino acid metabolism in rat liver. Endocrinology 89, 1250–1255.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Wolf, H., Brown, R. R. Arend, R. A. (1980) The kynurenine load test, an adjunct to the tryptophan load test. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. 40, 9–14.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Musajo, L. Benassi, C. A. (1964) Aspects of disorders of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism in man. Adv. Clin. Chem. 7, 63–135.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Price, J. M. (1958) Disorders of tryptophan metabolism. Univ. Mich. Med. Bull. 24, 461–485.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Chabner, B. A., DeVita, V. T., Livingston, D. M. Oliverio, V. T. (1970) Abnormalities of tryptophan metabolism and plasma pyridoxal phosphate in Hodgkin’s disease. New Eng. J. Med. 282, 838–843.

    Google Scholar 

  59. DeVita, V. T., Chabner, B. A., Livingston, D. M. Oliverio, V. T. (1971) Anergy and tryptophan metabolism in Hodgkin’s disease. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 24, 835–840.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Potera, C., Brown, R. R. Rose, D. P. (1977) Role of pyri- doxal phosphate (PLP) phosphatase activity in regulation of plasma PLP in cancer patients. Fed. Proc. 36, 1137.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Potera, C., Rose, D. P. Brown, R. R. (1977) Vitamin B-6 deficiency in cancer patients. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 30, 16771679.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Lumeng, L. Li, T.-K. (1980) Mammalian vitamin B-6 metabolism: regulatory role of protein-binding and the hydrolysis of pyridoxal-5’-phosphate in storage and transport. In: Vitamin B-6 Metabolism and Role in Growth ( Tryfiates, G. P., ed.), pp. 27–51. Food and Nutrition Press, Westport, Connecticut.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Gross, L. R. Newburne, P. M. (1980) Role of nutrition in immunologic function. Physiolog. Rev. 60, 265–269.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Schloen, L. H., Fernandes, G., Garofalo, J. A. Good, R. A. (1979) Nutrition, immunity and cancera review. Part II: Zinc, immune function and cancer. Clin. Bull. 9, 63–75.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Axelrod, A. E. Trakatellis, A. C. (1964) Relationship of pyridoxine to immunological phenomena. Vitamins and Hormones 22, 591–607.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Robson, L. C. Schwarz, M. R. (1975) Vitamin B-6 deficiency and the lymphoid system. II. Effects of vitamin B-6 deficiency in utero on the immunological competence of the offspring. Cell. Immunol. 16, 145–152.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Oncology Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin Center for Health Sciences, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    R. R. Brown

Authors
  1. R. R. Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Foods & Nutrition, Oregon State University, 97331, Corvallis, Oregon, USA

    James E. Leklem

  2. Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, USA

    Robert D. Reynolds

  3. Vitamin & Mineral Nutrition Lab., USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, 20705, Beltsville, Maryland, USA

    Robert D. Reynolds

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1981 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Brown, R.R. (1981). The Tryptophan Load Test as an Index of Vitamin B-6 Nutrition. In: Leklem, J.E., Reynolds, R.D. (eds) Methods in Vitamin B-6 Nutrition. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-9901-8_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-9901-8_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-9903-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-9901-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation