Urinary excretion of free hydroxylysine, peptide-bound hydroxylysine and hydroxylysyl glycosides in physiological conditions.

The amount of urinary hydroxylysine is an index of collagen metabolism. Of the total hydroxylysine measured in normal urine 80 percent is associated with sugars in two glycosidic compounds, glucosyl-galactosyl-hydroxylysine and galactosyl-hydroxylysine, ten percent is free and unglycosylated and the remainder is bound to urinary peptides. The excretion of hydroxylysyl glycosides follow the same physiological variations as urinary hydroxyproline, but it is not influenced by a collagen-free diet. The urinary excretion of hydroxylysyl glycosides, free hydroxylysine and peptide-bound hydroxylysine increases from 6 months of age to puberty. When corrected for urinary creatinine excretion, the largest amounts are found before one year of age. The glucosyl-galactosyl-hydroxylysine/galactosyl-hydroxylysine ratio is lower in the urine of children. After correction of the values to either the body surface area or to the creatinine excretion, no significant differences can be found between the sexes. The different forms of hydroxylysine are discussed.