Abstract
Two normal male adults were admistered orally 10 grams of DL-methionine and then the methionine contents in serum and urine measured. The methionine content in serum increased rapidly after 15 minutes, reached the highest level (116.5γ/ml) after 2 hours, and began to decrease 10 hours later gradually.
An excretion-rate of methionine in urine was greatest after 2 hours; about I. II grams of DL-methionine and 0.089 grams of L-methionine were excreted in 24 hours. Over 60% of total excretion of D-methionine in 24 hours excreted in the first 6 houts, whereas the excretion of L-form was less than 40% and seemed to delay as compared with D-form.
When liver functions were slightly disturbed, the serum methionine contents of the end of 24 hours after take incorporation of DL-methionine increased slightly or remained normal. But when liver damages were severe, it remained extremely high. Some clinical singnificance of the administration of methionine for severe liver damages was discussed.
