The plasma concentration of glycerol, the backbone of triglycerides and the end product of triacylglycerol breakdown, is considered to reflect lipolysis in adipose tissue. We evaluated an automated enzymatic procedure for the measurement of glycerol in plasma. The assay was linear up to 250?mol/l. The detection limit was 8?mol/l. Recovery averaged 94% from spiked plasma and 104% from diluted plasma. An extensive precision study performed according to the guidelines of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards showed within-run coefficients of variation between 14.8% and 2.6% for concentrations ranging from 28?mol/l to 164 ?mol/l. The reference range for fasting healthy adult men was 14–69 ?mol/l. Glycerol levels were significantly correlated with free fatty acid levels. This automated enzymatic method is rapid and reliable, and provides greater sensitivity or convenience than previously described procedures.
Print ISSN: 1434-6621
Volume: 39, 02/2001
Pages: 20 - 24