Dietary flavonols contribute to false-positive elevation of homovanillic acid, a marker of catecholamine-secreting tumors.

Author(s): Combet E, Lean ME, Boyle JG, Crozier A, Davidson DF

Publication: Clin Chim Acta, 2011, Vol. 412, Page 165-9

PubMed ID: 20933512 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dietary flavonols on the measurement if HVA in urine. Specimens were collected and frozen at either -20 or -80 degrees C until analysis.

   Summary of Findings:

   Good agreement between high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was observed regarding the measurement of urinary HVA. While a large degree of interindividual variability was observed, significantly higher HVA concentrations were seen in specimens from individuals following a high-flavonol diet compared with those following a low-flavonol diet (p<0.001). For 3 of 15 volunteers, a high-flavonol diet resulted in HVA measurements above the upper limit of the normal range. Other urinary phenolic acids, such as 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, were similarly increased after a high-flavonol diet (p<0.001).

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Urine

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Normal
   • Other diagnoses

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Small molecule	HPLC
   Small molecule	GC-MS

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Preaquisition	Patient diet	High-flavonol diet for 3 days Low-flavonol diet for 3 days
   Preaquisition	Diagnosis/ patient condition	Catecholamine-producing tumor
   HPLC Specific	Technology platform	GC-MS

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