title: Whole body protein synthesis in relation to basal energy expenditure in healthy children and in children recovering from burn injury.
abstract: Dynamic aspects of whole body nitrogen metabolism in children recovering from burn injury have been examined in relation to basal metabolic rate (BMR). A continuous administration of [15N]glycine was used to estimate the rates of whole body protein synthesis (S) and breakdown (C) in five acutely burned children (ages 5-16 years) and in nine healthy subjects (ages 9-18 years). S (grams of protein per kg body wt per day) and BMR were significantly correlated (r = +0.73; P less than 0.01). There was no significant correlation of C with BMR. The ratio of S (grams of protein per day) to BMR (kilocalories per day) was the same in burned and healthy children; the mean value for all children was 0.10 +/- 0.03 g protein synthesis/basal kcal. Calorie intake and S were significantly correlated (r = +0.70; P less than 0.01). There were significant correlations between BMR and percentage of total body surface area burned (r = +0.66; P less than 0.01), and BMR and age (r = -0.57; P less than 0.05). Age did not correlate significantly with percent of total body surface burned.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen