Hair amino acids: Normal values and results in metabolic errors

Abstract

Hair amino acids have been studied in 10 controls and in 25 patients suffering from metabolic inborn errors. Abnormalities of hair amino acid pattern were found in several cases. In phenylketonuria (7 cases), the hair phenylalanine level was significantly higher than that of the normal subjects. Glutamic acid was decreased. In homocystinuria (5 cases), the phenylalanine level was increased. The results suggest that a detailed examination of the hair proteins could give further information.