Abstract
We have previously reported that rates of protein turnover in neonates fed human milk were approximately 40% higher than those fed formula. Our conclusions were based on urinary 15N-urea enrichment. Subsequently the question has been raised as to which urinary nitrogenous end-product was most suitable; ie: urea, ammonia or a combination of the two. In the present study we compare results obtained for whole body protein turnover (g/kg/d) derived from the 3 different end-products in 30 AGA preterm neonates (BW1500-2000g) fed a whey-predominant (A) or casein predominant (B) formula or pooled human milk at 120 kcal/kq/d.
Values for the ammonia end-product are significantly lower (p< 0.01) than either of the other 2 end-products. No differences in turnover rate were seen due to diet from the ammonia end-product results. However in the whole urine results representing combined nitrogen excretion from the metabolic amino nitrogen pool, higher rates of turnover in breastfed infants are evident (p<0.01). We conclude that 1) ammonia nitrogen may not be a suitable end-product to use in studies of nitrogen metabolism of neonates; 2) neonates fed human milk have an increased rate of protein turnover compared with formula fed infants.
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Pencharz, P., Farri, L., Clarke, R. et al. A COMPARISON OF 15N-URINARY END-PRODUCTS IN ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF HUMAN MILK ON THE PROTEIN METABOLISM OF NEONATES. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 298 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01229
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01229