Identification of 2-guanidinoethanol in human urine

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Abstract
Guanidino compounds in normal human urine were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography; an unknown peak was observed in the chromatogram that was identical to the peak of synthetic 2-guanidinoethanol. In another experiment, the substance was purified from human urine by successive use of strongly acidic ion-exchanger, TLC and then weakly acidic ion-exchanger. After this it was reacted with acetylacetone to form dimethylpyrimidyl derivative. After further reaction of this derivative with trifluroacetic anhydrate, it was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The mass chromatogram and mass spectrum were identical to those of the trifluoroacetylated dimethylpyrimidyl derivative of synthetic 2-guanidinoethanol. This is the first report on the identification of 2-guanidinoethanol in human urine. The concentration of 2-guanidinoethanol in the urine of healthy humans was 5.7 + 1.8 (mean .+-. SD) .mu.mol/g creatinine.