Methylmalonic Acid (MMA)
Methylmalonic acid is a serum B12-pathway measure produced by LC-MS/MS. Across US males aged 30 to 39, the median MMA in NHANES 2013-2014 is 134 nmol/L.
Unit: nmol/L · 12 slices · age and sex · 1 source
Filed under panels: Vitamins · topics: Nutrition
Methylmalonic acid (MMA) is a serum organic acid related to intracellular B12-dependent metabolism. Its population distribution reflects both B12-pathway biology and renal handling, so LabNorms reports it separately from serum vitamin B12. Values shown here come from the NHANES 2013-2014 MMA file (MMA_H).
Population Distribution
Browse by Demographic
| Age (years) | male (nmol/L) | female (nmol/L) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 74–254 (132) | 72–212 (122) |
| 30-39 | 72–256 (134) | 74–277 (129) |
| 40-49 | 81–300 (142) | 72–284 (139) |
| 50-59 | 83–315 (157) | 84–472 (159) |
| 60-69 | 93–354 (172) | 92–387 (159) |
| 70+ | 100–546 (191) | 100–485 (196) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does MMA use NHANES 2013-2014?
MMA was not published in the NHANES 2017-2018 or 2017-March 2020 public lab files. LabNorms uses the 2013-2014 MMA file and documents it as an older-cycle estimate.
Why does MMA relate to kidney markers?
Renal handling contributes to serum MMA concentration. That means age and kidney-function patterns can influence the population distribution independently of B12 pathway status.
Is MMA the same kind of marker as serum B12?
No. Serum B12 measures circulating cobalamin, while MMA reflects a B12-dependent metabolic pathway. LabNorms reports their population distributions separately.