Clinical Biochemistry Unit, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch, New Zealand. michael.lever@chmeds.ac.nz
OBJECTIVES: Does abnormal betaine excretion persist? DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients (10) with abnormal excretion in 1998 were recalled in 2005. Subsequent urine samples were collected on 4 days from persistently abnormal subjects. RESULTS: Half the 1998 abnormal patients were abnormal in 2005. Only 1/20 controls was abnormal (p=0.015). All patients with abnormal excretion in 1998 and 2005 had abnormal excretion on successive days while no controls did. CONCLUSIONS: High betaine excretion may be chronic and a health risk.