Urinary hydroxylysine glycosides: Solid phase extraction and reversed phase chromatographic measurement

Summary A method is described for measurement of urinary hydroxylysine glycosides (galactosyl-hydroxylysine, or GHYL, and glucosyl-galactosyl-hydroxylysine, or GGHYL) by reversed phase chromatography after purification of the sample by solid phase extraction. Urinary levels of hydroxylysine glycosides has been correlated with collagen catabolism, and the urinary GGHYL: GHYL ratio is indicative of the metabolism of connective tissue. The GGHYL:GHYL ratio might, therefore, be a promising indicator of bone mass loss. The method described is analytically reliable and enables the measurement of a possible marker for diagnosis and follow-up of osteoporosis.