This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Lundholm, K. Articles by Lindmark, L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lundholm, K. Articles by Lindmark, L. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Is it Possible to Evaluate the Efficacy of Amino Acid Solutions after Major Surgical Procedures or Accidental Injuries? Evaluation in a Randomized and Prospective Study

Departments of Surgery I and Anaesthesiology, Sahlgrenska Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Klas Bennegard

Departments of Surgery I and Anaesthesiology, Sahlgrenska Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Ingemar Wickström

Departments of Surgery I and Anaesthesiology, Sahlgrenska Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Lars Lindmark

Departments of Surgery I and Anaesthesiology, Sahlgrenska Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Two unbalanced amino acid solutions (essential amino acids, branched-chain amino acids) were compared to a complete and balanced amino acid solution with regard to efficacy of nitrogen balance. Patients were randomized to receive the amino acid solutions over 3 days for each regimen. The patients were examined postoperatively or directly after accidental trauma. Nonprotein calories were given as 40 kcal/ kg/day consisting of 50% fat and 50% glucose. Nitrogen was given at the amount of 0.15 g N/kg/day. Unbalanced amino acid solutions gave a 2-fold more negative nitrogen balance than a balanced and complete amino acid solution. However, this difference disappeared and nitrogen balance approached equilibrium irrespective of the amino acid composition of the infused solutions when nitrogen in blood products was accounted for. All patients received a considerable amount of blood products in a comparable but unpredictable way. Blood products corresponded to around 40% of the daily nitrogen intake. Our study demonstrates that it is not possible to test the efficacy of amino acids for nitrogen retention in patients who are in the need of blood-product transfusions. It is likely that amino acids in blood proteins serve as a significant amino acid source that is utilized for resynthesis of body proteins especially in flow-phase patients with high protein breakdown. This fact has not been sufficiently accounted for in the previous literature. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 10:29-33, 1986)

Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Vol. 10, No. 1, 29-33 (1986)
DOI: 10.1177/014860718601000129


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B.-M. Iresjo, U. Korner, B. Larsson, B.-A. Henriksson, and K. Lundholm Appearance of Individual Amino Acid Concentrations in Arterial Blood During Steady-State Infusions of Different Amino Acid Formulations to ICU Patients in Support of Whole-Body Protein Metabolism JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, July 1, 2006; 30(4): 277 - 285. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-P. De Bandt and L. Cynober Therapeutic Use of Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Burn, Trauma, and Sepsis J. Nutr., January 1, 2006; 136(1): 308S - 313S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Sandstrom, A. Hyltander, U. Korner, and K. Lundholm The Effect on Energy and Nitrogen Metabolism by Continuous, Bolus, or Sequential Infusion of a Defined Total Parenteral Nutrition Formulation in Patients After Major Surgical Procedures JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, September 1, 1995; 19(5): 333 - 340. [Abstract] [PDF]