Tag: Aminolevulinic acid

The question 'Is there a test for ALA?' can be confusing because the abbreviation 'ALA' refers to different compounds in medical and nutritional contexts. A diagnostic urine test measures delta-aminolevulinic acid (d-ALA) levels to check for specific metabolic disorders, while a separate blood test can assess levels of the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid.

Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is the first committed precursor in the metabolic pathway for synthesizing porphyrins, including heme and chlorophyll. This process is so fundamental that nearly all living organisms produce ALA. So, what is the source of aminolevulinic acid and why does it differ across species?