Sarcosine

ChemistryAlso known as: N-methylglycineAlso known as: Methylaminoacetic acidmmol/L

Measures sarcosine, a naturally occurring amino acid, in serum or plasma.

Normal Range

0.05 mmol/L

mmol/L

Abnormal Levels

Consult your provider

Specimen Type

Blood

Why This Biomarker Matters

Abnormal sarcosine levels may indicate metabolic disorders or kidney dysfunction. This test is used in specialized evaluations of metabolic and certain neurological conditions.

Understanding Your Results

Normal Range

0.05 mmol/L

Overview

Sarcosine is a naturally occurring amino acid produced by your body's metabolism of choline. A 24-hour urine sarcosine test measures how much of this compound you are excreting. Elevated levels may indicate certain metabolic disorders, nutritional imbalances, or kidney dysfunction. Sarcosine has also been investigated for its potential role in neurological conditions like schizophrenia. This test is less commonly ordered but may be used in specialized metabolic or psychiatric evaluations.

Research & Evidence

12 publications

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Serum levels of S100B in patients with chronic schizophrenia during treatment augmentation with sarcosine: results of the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled PULSAR study.

Front Pharmacol · 2026

PMID: 41929255

The role of linker on the elevated biosensing performance of a carbohydrate-binding module-tagged sarcosine oxidase.

Int J Biol Macromol · 2026

PMID: 41895493

GlyT1 (SLC6A9) inhibition in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol · 2026

PMID: 41975102

Increased Glycine-N-methyltransferase expression disrupts light-dependent gene expression rhythms in the Drosophila eye.

J Cell Sci · 2026

PMID: 41877655

Temporal variations in serum metabolites of bipolar disorder around the summer solstice: A targeted metabolomics study.

Chronobiol Int · 2026

PMID: 41883331

Longitudinal Plasma Metabolomics by GC-MS and LC-MS During Total Parenteral Nutrition After Gastrointestinal Surgery.

Metabolites · 2026

PMID: 41893348

Integrating experimental and theoretical approaches to unveil structure-bioactivity relationships in silver(I)-substituted glycine complexes.

Dalton Trans · 2026

PMID: 41915416

Polar Lattice-Distorted Motifs Enable Synergy of Local Polarization/Dipole Fields for Concurrent Glyphosate Wastewater Remediation and CO Evolution.

Adv Sci (Weinh) · 2026

PMID: 41926659

A Simplified and Efficient Protocol for DNA Isolation from Deer Antlers and Prepared Trophy Skulls.

Animals (Basel) · 2026

PMID: 41976034

Proteomic insights into the dynamic inflammatory and metabolic networks of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun · 2026

PMID: 41666605

Research data from MEDLINE/PubMed · 12 articles

Technical Information (LOINC Codes)

Standardized laboratory codes for this biomarker

2930-6Primary

Sarcosine [Presence] in Serum or Plasma

9323-7

Sarcosine [Moles/volume] in 24 hour Urine

mmol/L

25518-2

Sarcosine [Moles/time] in 24 hour Urine

umol/(24.h)

26598-3

Sarcosine [Moles/volume] in Cerebral spinal fluid

umol/L

26613-0

Sarcosine [Moles/volume] in Serum or Plasma

umol/L

26724-5

Sarcosine [Moles/volume] in Urine

nmol/mL

17568-7

Sarcosine [Presence] in Urine

26932-4

Sarcosine [Moles/volume] in Amniotic fluid

umol/dL

Available Lab Tests

Order tests that measure this biomarker

Amino Acids (Plasma)

Results in 3-7 business days