DIMETHYLAMINE IN HUMAN URINE

The urinary excretion of dimethylamine has been measured in 203 unrela ted healthy volunteers (102 male) who maintained their normal diets. T he results for female volunteers are the first reported in the literat ure. The average daily output was 17.43 +/- 11.80 mg (mean +/- S.D.) ( 21.21 +/- 14.78 male; 13.74 +/- 5.65 female) with values for the major ity of the population lying within the 0.68-35.72 mg range. Four male outliers excreted up to 109.2 mg; these large amounts of dimethylamine were presumed to be of dietary origin. The literature pertaining to u rinary levels of dimethylamine has been summarised and integrated with the present observations.