Low S-adenosylmethionine/ S-adenosylhomocysteine Ratio in Urine is Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) in urine with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: Case-control study including 50 patients with CKD and 20 healthy volunteers.

Results: SAM level and SAM/SAH ratio in urine were significantly lower in patients than in control individuals (P <.001 and P = .01, respectively). The estimated glomerular filtration rate was associated with the SAM level (P = .04) and the SAM/SAH ratio in urine (P = .01).

Conclusion: CKD is associated not only with the decline in the SAM level but also with the decrease in the SAM/SAH ratio in urine. Thus, use of the urinary SAM/SAH ratio as a noninvasive diagnostic indicator of renal function seems promising.

Keywords: S-adenosylhomocysteine; S-adenosylmethionine; chronic kidney disease; homocysteine; hyperhomocysteinemia; urine.