Abstract

In the present study a method is developed for the quantitation of N-methylnicotinamide (NMN) in rat and human urine with capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Because NMN is considered as a possible biomarker for nitrite exposure, a quantitative method of analysis is required for further evaluation studies. In the present report CZE was evaluated as method of analysis for NMN. CZE turned out to be very suitable. No pretreatment of the human urine sample was needed before analysis and large series of samples can be handled. Although only a few human urine samples have been analysed at present, the CZE method looks very promising. In addition NMN concentrations in rat urine samples from a toxicity experiment have been determined. At this point it is questionable whether a dose-response relationship exists in the low concentration exposure range because the statistical significance disappeared after correction for the produced urine volume or creatinin content.