Effect of diet on urinary MHPG excretion in depressed patients and normal control subjects.

The authors studied the effect of a catecholamine-controlled diet on the urinary level of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) of 6 depressed patients and 6 normal volunteers. The normal subjects showed no change in MHPG levels on or off the diet; the depressed patients showed a significant increase in MHPG while off the diet.