Determination of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol in urine and the effect of diet on its excretion.

A modified method is described for determination of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in urine by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The method is reproducible and mean (+/- SD) recoveries of MHPG from urine were 78.5 +/- 12.7% and 76.5 +/- 15.0% in two separate series of analyses. Mean 24-hour MHPG excretion was 1884 +/- 591 microgram in 11 normal subjects and 1688 +/- 593 microgram in 20 patients with various types of depression. Males excreted more MHPG than females but this difference could be eliminated by expressing the values relative to the creatinine in urine. Variations in diet did not appear to influence urinary MHPG excretion.