Other names: alpha-Ketoisovaleric acid / 2-Oxoisovaleric acid
2-Oxoisovaleric acid is an abnormal metabolite that arises from the incomplete breakdown of branched-chain amino acids (=BCAA). 2-Oxoisovaleric acid is a neurotoxin, an acidogen, and a metabotoxin.
Neurotoxin:
A neurotoxin causes damage to nerve cells and nerve tissues.
Acidogen:
An acidogen is an acidic compound that induces acidosis, which has multiple adverse effects on many organ systems.
Metabotoxin:
A metabotoxin is an endogenously produced metabolite that causes adverse health effects at chronically high levels.
Chronically high levels of 2-Oxoisovaleric acid are associated with maple syrup urine disease. MSUD is a metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of the branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex (BCKDC), leading to a buildup of the branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) and their toxic by-products (ketoacids) in the blood and urine. The symptoms of MSUD often show in infancy and lead to severe brain damage if untreated. MSUD may also present later depending on the severity of the disease. If left untreated in older individuals, during times of metabolic crisis, symptoms of the condition include uncharacteristically inappropriate, extreme, or erratic behaviour and moods, hallucinations, anorexia, weight loss, anemia, diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, lethargy, oscillating hypertonia and hypotonia, ataxia, seizures, hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, opisthotonus, pancreatitis, rapid neurological decline, and coma. In maple syrup urine disease, the brain concentration of branched-chain keto acids can increase 10- to 20-fold. This leads to a depletion of glutamate and a consequent reduction in the concentration of brain glutamine, aspartate, alanine, and other amino acids. The result is a compromise of energy metabolism because of a failure of the malate-aspartate shuttle and a diminished rate of protein synthesis.
2-Oxoisovaleric (Males Age 13 and Over)
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