ABSTRACT. A series of in vivo experiments is described in which [l-'3C]phytanic acid was given as an oral substrate to a healthy subject and two patients showing an impairment in phytanic acid degradation, one with Refsum's disease and one with chondrodysplasia punctata. After intake of the substrate by the control in a dose of 20 mg/ kg body weight, the production of I3CO2 was measured in exhaled breath air and the concomitant formation of labeled 2-hydroxyphytanic acid and of pristanic acid was demonstrated by plasma analysis. After application of a substrate dose of 1 mg/kg body weight to the control, no substantial amounts of 13COz were measured, whereas time-dependent analysis of labeled 2-hydroxyphytanic acid in plasma yielded a concentration curve superimposed upon the baseline value (0.2 pmollL) of the unlabeled substance. Phytanic acid accumulated in plasma from the Refsum's disease patient 1649 pmol/L, controls > 1 y (n = 100): c 10 pmol/L], whereas the pristanic acid concentration was within the control range 11.4 pmol/L, controls > 1 y (n = 100): c 3 pmol/L]. Low amounts of 2-hydroxyphytanic acid were found normally present 10.04 pmol/L, controls > 1 y (n = 11): < 0.2 pmol/L], and formation of labeled 2-hydroxyphytanic acid could not be demonstrated after ingestion of [1-13C]phytanic acid in a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight. In addition to phytanic acid accumulation (232 pmol/L), the chondrodysplasia punctata patient showed an elevated 2-hydroxyphytanic acid plasma concentration (0.4 pmol/L), whereas the plasma pristanic acid level was in the control range (0.7 pmol/L). Oral administration of [l-I3C]phytanic acid (1 mg/kg body weight) to this patient resulted in a plasma concentration/time profile of labeled 2-hydroxyphytanic acid similar to that of the control. These findings demonstrate that a-hydroxylation of phytanic acid is a physiologic process and indicate that Refsum's disease and chondrodysplasia punctata patients have a different ability to convert phytanic acid into 2-hydroxyphytanic acid. (Pediatu Res 32: 566-570, 1992) Abbreviations CDP, chondrodysplasia punctata PFB, pentafluorobenzyl RCDP, rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata RD, Refsum's disease TMS, trimethylsilyl