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Metabolite Card

Note

Vanillylmandelic acid, also known as vanillylmandelate or VMA, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as methoxyphenols. Methoxyphenols are compounds containing a methoxy group attached to the benzene ring of a phenol moiety. Vanillylmandelic acid is a sweet and vanilla tasting compound. Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) is a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of artificial vanilla flavorings and is an end-stage metabolite of the catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine). Vanillylmandelic acid exists in all living organisms, ranging from bacteria to plants to humans. Within humans, vanillylmandelic acid participates in a number of enzymatic reactions. In particular, vanillylmandelic acid can be biosynthesized from 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycolaldehyde through its interaction with the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase. In addition, vanillylmandelic acid and pyrocatechol can be biosynthesized from 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid and guaiacol through the action of the enzyme catechol O-methyltransferase. Urinary VMA is elevated in patients with tumors that secrete catecholamines. Urinary VMA tests may also be used to diagnose neuroblastomas, and to monitor treatment of these conditions. VMA urinalysis tests can be used to diagnose an adrenal gland tumor called pheochromocytoma, a tumor of catecholamine-secreting chromaffin cells. Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) is produced in the liver and is a major product of norepinephrine and epinephrine metabolism excreted in the urine.