Metabolism of deuterium-labeled nonanoic acids in the riboflavin-deficient rat model of multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.

Riboflavin-deficient rats are used to study the metabolism of deuterium-labeled nonanoic acids under conditions mimicking the human disorder of multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in which large amounts of ethyl-malonic, glutaric, adipic, suberic, 4-octenedioic, sebacic and 4-decenedioic acids are excreted. Both control and deficient rats convert the nonanoic acids to labeled azelaic and pimelic acids. The labeling pattern in pimelic acid is consistent with the omega-oxidation of nonanoic acids to azelaic acid followed by beta-oxidation to pimelic acid.