Description:
The ADMA Assay is designed to detect insulin resistance, a condition that can lead to other health problems, by measuring levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). As the principal endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, ADMA (asymmetric dimethylarginine) regulates rates of nitric oxide (NO) formation. Nitric oxide acts as a signal molecule in the nervous system, as a weapon against infections, as a regulator of blood pressure, and as a gatekeeper of blood flow to the organs. Elevated ADMA has been associated with various cardiovascular risk factors, renal failure, and erectile dysfunction. Factors contributing to elevated ADMA include increased oxidative challenge and folic acid insufficiency. This assay is particularly relevant because ADMA is a better predictor of insulin resistance than any other single marker, including being a better predictor of vascular endothelial impairment than the commonly measured cholesterol. An elevated concentration of ADMA is a potential contributory factor for pre-eclampsia, and is associated with endothelial dysfunction in some women. Furthermore, a glucose-induced impairment causes ADMA accumulation and may contribute to endothelial vasodilator dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. In the cardiovascular system, decreased NO biosynthesis has the potential to increase blood pressure, enhance platelet and white cell adhesiveness, increase vascular smooth muscle growth, alter mitochondrial oxygen consumption and accelerate the development of atherosclerotic-like lesions. In pre-clinical and clinical studies, ADMA has been found to be elevated by hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, or hyperhomocysteinemia, in addition to ADMA levels being strongly correlated with triglyceride levels. |
Tests for:
Insulin resistance, a sign of diabetes, pre-diabetes, and heart disease Symptoms and conditions:
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
Analytes measured:
Method: LC/MS-MS |
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