1. Introduction to Threonine (Thr)

What is Threonine? Threonine (Thr) is an essential amino acid critical for protein synthesis, immune function, and metabolic processes. It is a precursor to glycine and serine and plays a role in the formation of collagen, elastin, and mucin proteins, which support skin, connective tissues, and mucosal barriers. Threonine is obtained through dietary sources like meat, dairy, eggs, and certain grains. Measuring serum or plasma threonine levels is used to assess nutritional status, diagnose metabolic disorders, and investigate conditions related to protein malnutrition or liver dysfunction.

2. What is a Threonine Unit Converter?

Definition: The Threonine Unit Converter converts serum or plasma threonine concentrations between various units, enabling standardization of laboratory results for clinical use.

Purpose: It assists clinicians and researchers in interpreting threonine levels across different measurement units (e.g., µmol/L to mg/dL), ensuring accurate diagnosis and monitoring of nutritional and metabolic conditions.

3. Importance of Threonine Unit Conversions

Converting threonine concentrations between units is critical for:

• Standardizing Results: Different labs report threonine in various units (e.g., µmol/L, mg/dL); conversion ensures consistency for diagnosis and research.
• Clinical Diagnosis: Accurate conversions aid in assessing nutritional deficiencies, diagnosing metabolic disorders, and evaluating conditions linked to altered threonine metabolism, such as liver disease or malnutrition.
• Research and Collaboration: Enables comparison of threonine data across studies or institutions using different measurement standards.

4. Clinical Significance

Elevated Levels: High threonine levels (e.g., >250 µmol/L or >3.0 mg/dL) are uncommon but may indicate:

• Excessive dietary intake or supplementation of threonine.
• Impaired threonine metabolism due to liver dysfunction or enzymatic defects.
• Rare metabolic disorders affecting amino acid clearance.

Elevated threonine is typically not associated with significant toxicity but may reflect underlying metabolic issues.

Low Levels: Low threonine levels (e.g., <80 µmol/L or <0.95 mg/dL) may indicate:

• Malnutrition or inadequate dietary protein intake, particularly in vegan or restricted diets.
• Malabsorption syndromes (e.g., celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease).
• Increased threonine utilization in conditions like chronic inflammation, infection, or cancer.

Low threonine can impair immune function, mucosal integrity, and protein synthesis, leading to symptoms like fatigue or poor wound healing.

Normal Ranges:

• Adults: Typically 80–250 µmol/L (0.95–2.98 mg/dL).
• Children: Slightly higher, typically 90–300 µmol/L (1.07–3.57 mg/dL), varying by age.
• 1 µmol/L ≈ 0.0119 mg/dL (based on threonine’s molecular weight of 119.12 g/mol); values vary by lab and assay—consult a healthcare provider for interpretation.

5. Precautions

Interferences:

• Threonine levels are influenced by dietary intake, fasting status, and liver function; fasting samples are preferred for consistency.
• Sample handling (e.g., proper storage, avoiding hemolysis) is critical to prevent degradation of threonine.
• Interpret threonine levels with other amino acids, nutritional markers (e.g., albumin), and clinical findings—consult a healthcare provider for accuracy.

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why are there different units for threonine?
A: Different units reflect varying standards; µmol/L is the SI unit, while mg/dL is commonly used in clinical practice for amino acid measurements.

Q: What is a normal threonine level?
A: Normal serum threonine is typically 80–250 µmol/L (0.95–2.98 mg/dL) in adults. Consult a healthcare provider for interpretation based on context.

Q: Can this converter be used for other amino acids?
A: No, this converter is specific to threonine; other amino acids (e.g., serine, lysine) have different molecular weights and conversion factors—consult a healthcare provider for accuracy.