Excretion of amino acids by patients with psoriasis ingesting two levels of the same protein.

The amounts of 27 amino acids and other ninhydrin-reacting substances were determined by ion-exchange chromatography in the urine of patients with psoriasis, eating diets containing 54 and 104 Gm. of protein from the same source. Regardless of level of protein intake, asparagine plus glutamine, histidine, glycine, and taurine or lysine contents of urine accounted for between 55 and 64 per cent of the total amount of amino acids present. This nucleus of amino acids, with the excep tion of lysine, was the same as in control individuals fed the same diets. The amount of amino acids in the urine increased when the protein intake was doubled, but only lysine, a-aminoadipic acid, and cystathionine excretion was increased at least twofold. No outstanding differences in amino acid excretion were found between patients with psoriasis and control subjects. (Metabolism 15: No. 1, January, 46-52, 1966)