Enantiomer-specific pharmacokinetics of D,L-3-hydroxybutyrate: Implications for the treatment of multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

Willemijn J. van Rijt, Johan L. K. van Hove, Frédéric M. Vaz, Rick Havinga, Derk P. Allersma, Tanja R. Zijp, Jirair K. Bedoyan, M. R. Heiner-Fokkema, Dirk-Jan Reijngoud, Michael T. Geraghty, Ronald J. A. Wanders, Maaike H. Oosterveer, Terry G. J. Derks

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Abstract

D,L-3-hydroxybutyrate (D,L-3-HB, a ketone body) treatment has been described in several inborn errors of metabolism, including multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD; glutaric aciduria type II). We aimed to improve the understanding of enantiomer-specific pharmacokinetics of D,L-3-HB. Using UPLC-MS/MS, we analyzed D-3-HB and L-3-HB concentrations in blood samples from three MADD patients, and blood and tissue samples from healthy rats, upon D,L-3-HB salt administration (patients: 736-1123 mg/kg/day; rats: 1579-6317 mg/kg/day of salt-free D,L-3-HB). D,L-3-HB administration caused substantially higher L-3-HB concentrations than D-3-HB. In MADD patients, both enantiomers peaked at 30 to 60 minutes, and approached baseline after 3 hours. In rats, D,L-3-HB administration significantly increased Cmax and AUC of D-3-HB in a dose-dependent manner (controls vs ascending dose groups for Cmax: 0.10 vs 0.30-0.35-0.50 mmol/L, and AUC: 14 vs 58-71-106 minutes*mmol/L), whereas for L-3-HB the increases were significant compared to controls, but not dose proportional (Cmax: 0.01 vs 1.88-1.92-1.98 mmol/L, and AUC: 1 vs 380-454-479 minutes*mmol/L). L-3-HB concentrations increased extensively in brain, heart, liver, and muscle, whereas the most profound rise in D-3-HB was observed in heart and liver. Our study provides important knowledge on the absorption and distribution upon oral D,L-3-HB. The enantiomer-specific pharmacokinetics implies differential metabolic fates of D-3-HB and L-3-HB.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)926-938
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Inherited Metabolic Disease
Volume44
Issue number4
Early online date2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2021

Keywords

  • 3-hydroxybutyrate
  • enantiomer
  • inborn error of metabolism
  • ketone bodies
  • multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
  • pharmacokinetics

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