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. 2017 Oct 25;106(6):1490–1499. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.117.164384

TABLE 3.

Serum metabolites positively associated with height-for-age z score

Metabolite Description
Androsterone sulfate Sulfated neurosteroid
Dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate Sulfated neurosteroid with memory enhancing, neuroprotective effects
Sphingomyelin (d18:1/20:1, d18:2/20:0) Sphingomyelin
1-(1-Enyl-palmitoyl)-2-linoleoyl-glycerophosphorylcholine (P-16:0/18:2) Phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen, diene
Sphingomyelin (d18:1/22:1, d18:2/22:0, d16:1/24:1) Sphingomyelin
Glutamine Conditionally essential amino acid
Hypotaurine Intermediate in biosynthesis of taurine
Creatinine Breakdown product of creatine phosphate in muscle
Homoarginine Nonproteinogenic amino acid formed from lysine, involved in vascular homeostasis
γ-Glutamyl-methionine Dipeptide composed of γ-glutamate and methionine
Threonine Essential amino acid
Trans-4-hydroxyproline Major component of protein collagen (role in collagen stability)
N-acetylcarnosine Related to carnosine but with extra acetyl group, found especially in muscle tissue
γ-Glutamyl-glutamine Dipeptide composed of γ-glutamate and glutamine
Methionine Essential amino acid
Thioproline Metabolite of 5-hydroxytryptamine catabolism
Pro-hydroxy-pro Major component of collagen
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) Monoamine neurotransmitter, derived from tryptophan
Sphingomyelin (d18:1/21:0, d17:1/22:0, d16:1/23:0) Sphingomyelin
Arginine Conditionally essential amino acid
1-Stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-glycerophosphorylcholine (18:0/20:4) Phosphatidylcholine, polyene
Sphingomyelin (d18:1/20:0, d16:1/22:0) Sphingomyelin
Tryptophan Essential amino acid
4-Androsten-3β,17β-diol disulfate Metabolite of dihydrotestosterone
1-Lignoceroyl-glycerophosphorylcholine (24:0) Lyso-phosphatidylcholine, long-chain saturate
γ-Glutamyl-threonine Dipeptide composed of γ-glutamate and threonine
Pregn steroid monosulfate Endogenous excitatory neurosteroid, with cognitive and memory-enhancing effects
5α-Pregnan-3β,20α-diol sulfate Sulfate of pregnanediol isomer, metabolite of plasma progesterone
Sphingomyelin (d18:2/14:0, d18:1/14:1) Sphingomyelin
Leucine Essential amino acid
2-Aminobutyrate Intermediate in biosynthesis of ophthalmic acid
1-Linoleoyl-2-arachidonoyl-glycerophosphorylcholine (18:2/20:4n–6) Phosphatidylcholine, polyene
5α-Pregnan-3β, 20α-diol monosulfate Sulfate of pregnanediol isomer, metabolite of plasma progesterone
1-(1-Enyl-palmitoyl)-2-arachidonyl-glycerophosphorylcholine (P-16:0/20:4) Phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen, polyene
Tyrosine Nonessential amino acid
Sphingomyelin (d18:1/18:1, d18:2/18:0) Sphingomyelin
Pregnenolone sulfate Endogenous excitatory neurosteroid, with cognitive and memory-enhancing effects
Sphingomyelin (d18:1/14:0, d16:1/16:0) Sphingomyelin
Glycylvaline Dipeptide of glycine and valine
Serine Nonessential amino acid
Carnitine Conditionally essential nutrient, nonproteinogenic amino acid
Stearoyl sphingomyelin (d18:1/18:0) Sphingomyelin
Sphingomyelin (d18:2/23:0, d18:1/23:1, d17:1/24:1) Sphingomyelin long chain
5-Hydroxyindoleacetate Breakdown product of serotonin
Asparagine Nonessential amino acid
Isovalerylcarnitine C5 acylcarnitine
Citrate Acid in the tricarboxylic acid cycle
DHA (22:6n–3) Very-long-chain PUFA with a 22-carbon backbone and 6 double bonds, polyene
5-Hydroxylysine Hydroxylated derivative of lysine present in certain collagens
γ-Glutamyl-leucine Dipeptide composed of γ-glutamate and leucine
Sphingomyelin (d18:2/16:0, d18:1/16:1) Sphingomyelin
1-(1-Enyl-stearoyl)-2-archidonoyl-glycerophosphoethanolamine (P-18:0/20:4) Phosphatidylethanolamine, plasmalogen polyene
γ-Glutamyl-tryptophan Dipeptide composed of γ-glutamate and tryptophan
5-Bromotryptophan Nonproteinogenic α-amino acid
3-Hydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid Found in the primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway
1-Arachindonoyl-glycerophosphorylcholine (20:4n–6) Lyso-phosphatidylcholine, polyene
17α-Hydroxypregnenolone sulfate Prohormone in the formation of dehydroepiandrosterone, itself a prohormone of the sex steroids
2′-Deoxyuridine Naturally occurring nucleoside
γ-Glutamyl-tyrosine Dipeptide composed of γ-glutamate and tyrosine
Sphingomyelin (d18:2/24:1, d18:1//24:2) Sphingomyelin, long-chain unsaturate
Glucose Monosaccharide, primary source of energy
α-Hydroxyisocaproate End product of leucine metabolism
21-Hydroxypregnenolone disulfate Essential intermediate in corticosterone synthesis
5α-Pregnan-3(α or β),20β-diol disulfate Sulfate of pregnanediol isomer, metabolite of plasma progesterone
N-Acetyltryptophan Stabilizer
Oxalate (ethanedioate) Dicarboxylic acid found in vegetables and produced endogenously by metabolism of glyoxylic acid or ascorbic acid
Taurine Sulfonic acid with wide distribution in tissues
Taurolithocholate 3-sulfate Sulfated bile acid
5-Methyluridine (ribothymidine) Endogenous methylated nucleoside
γ-Glutamyl-α-lysine Dipeptide composed of γ-glutamate and lysine
3β-7α-Dihydroxy-5-cholestenoate Found in the primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway
Gluconate Mild organic acid, abundant in plant foods, fruit, rice
Isoleucylglycine Dipeptide composed of isoleucine and glycine
Lignoceroyl sphingomyelin (d18:1/24:0) Sphingomyelin long chain saturate