Sarcosine

A metabolite of glycine metabolism.

Last reviewedJune 16, 2026

Plasma

sample type

~5 mL

blood needed

~7 days

results in app

Morning, fasting

best timing

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Why test Reference ranges What you'll learn What affects it How testing works Sources FAQ

In short

Sarcosine is a small amino acid made and used in the metabolism of glycine, one of the simplest amino acids. It sits in the pathway that recycles methyl groups, linking it to folate and choline metabolism. It appears in plasma in small amounts.

Comprehensive Health Check

Reviewed against DGKL reference practice.

Why test this?

Sarcosine is reported as part of a full amino acid profile, mainly as a clue rather than a routine health marker. A raised level can point toward sarcosinemia, a usually harmless inherited variant, so it is read in the context of the whole profile.

What is a normal result?

Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.

Adult fasting plasma, guidance only:

Analyte	Typical adult range (µmol/L)
Sarcosine	0 to 4

Ranges vary by laboratory and assay and are read as part of the full amino acid profile.

Ranges are guidance and vary by lab and assay, aligned with DGKL practice. Always read your result against your own lab's reference interval.

What insights will this test give you?

Whether sarcosine sits in the usual low adult range.
Context for glycine and methyl group metabolism.
In rare cases, a clue that supports a closer look at an inherited variant.

What can affect this result?

What can skew the result

Results are affected by recent diet, recent protein intake, fasting state and the time of day the sample is taken.

Best interpreted with

Read as part of the full plasma amino acid profile.

How is this tested?

Sample

Plasma

Blood needed

~5 mL

Method

Ion-exchange chromatography or LC-MS/MS

Best timing

Morning, fasting

Sources. The evidence behind this

Mayo Clinic Laboratories: Amino Acids, Quantitative, Plasma

Common questions

Which Aniva panels include this marker?

Amino Acids

These tests assess essential, non-essential, and branched-chain amino acids, plus related metabolites and functional ratios.