THE EXCRETION OF C6-C10-DICARBOXYLIC ACIDS IN THE URINE OF NEWBORN INFANTS DURING STARVATION

Abstract

The excretion of C6-C10-dicarboxylic acids, i.e., adipic, suberic and sebacic acids, was measured during the first 3 days of life in 3 fasting newborns, 2 newborns fed with isocaloric glucose and 2 newborns given mothers'' milk. On the 2nd and 3rd day of life the starved children excreted 27-84 mmol adipic acid/mol creatinine, 6-22 mmol suberic acid/mol creatinine and 4-7 mmol sebacic acid/mol creatinine. The excretion of C6-C10-dicarboxylic acids in the neonates given glucose or mothers'' milk was, for the first 3 days of life, 0-9 mmol adipic acid/mol creatinine, 0-10 mmol suberic acid/mol creatinine and 0-4 mmol sebacic acid/mol creatinine. The latter amounts are equivalent to the excretion of dicarboxylic acids in older children. The detected dicarboxylic acids evidently are formed by .omega.-oxidation of long-chain monocarboxylic acids followed by .beta.-oxidation and the excreted amounts reflect .omega.-oxidation activity. The substantial .omega.-oxidation activity in the starving newborn apparently provide succinyl-CoA substrate for the citric acid cycle and gluconeogenesis.