Phosphoethanolamine together with Ethanolamine and Phosphoserine are amino acids that are closely related structurally and they share principal roles in phospholipid metabolism.
Phospholipids are a class of lipids that are important components of cell membranes. Phospholipids are found in high concentrations in the membrane of practically every cell of the body.
Phosphoethanolamine is a precursor to acetaldehyde, which can exert metabolic poisoning effects by irreversible binding to coenzyme A, especially in an individual with restricted intake of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5).
Mitochondrial inhibition by both ethanolaine and Phosphoethanolamine in vitro suggests that altered brain phospholipids metabolism may initiate depression and bipolar disorder.
Ethanolamine is converted to phosphoethanolamine via a magnesium- and manganese-dependent reaction.
Lower levels:
– Ethanolamine and phosphoethanolamine are precursors of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The conversion of ethanolamine to phosphoethanolamine involves a magnesium dependent kinase. When ethanolamine is high or normal and phosphoethanolamine is low, there is a presumptive need for magnesium.
Higher levels:
– Cytosolic phosphoethanolamine and ethanolamine have been shown to provide prognostic factors in breast cancer. Phosphoethanolamine is elevated in patients with high rates of breast tumor growth. As the stage of the disease progresses, the values of phosphoethanolamine plus ethanolamine become higher.
– Increased plasma and urinary phosphoethanolamine is found in individuals with osteopenia associated with “adult” hypophosphatasia (=a rare genetic disorder), along with subnormal circulating total alkaline phosphatase activity. However, phosphoethanolaminuria is not pathognomonic of Hypophosphatasia and can occur in other disorders, including several metabolic bone diseases.
– High phosphoethanolamine may indicate functional impairment of acetylcholine synthesis. Functional vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, or disordered methionine metabolism (i.e. inhibition of methyl group transfer), may account for high phosphoethanolamine. Therefore, high phosphoethanolamine may indicate need for SAMe, vitamin B12, folate and betaine.
References:
– https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/phosphoethanolamine
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