title: Background to the therapeutic potential of essential amino acid analogues.
abstract: Experimental investigation of the metabolic effects of essential amino acid analogues has to be critically assessed against a background of limited experimental techniques and very incomplete understanding of both protein metabolism and protein requirements. Although interest in the therapeutic use of these compounds initially centered on patients with chronic renal failure, their therapeutic potential is by no means confined to renal disease. The fact that metabolic effects of essential amino acid analogues cannot be explained simply in terms of their conversion to the essential amino acids raises the possibility that they may prove to be useful inducers of protein anabolism. Improvement in nitrogen balance may only be of the order of a few grams and measurable nitrogen balance is only a small proportion of total protein turnover, nevertheless, small changes may prove to be of considerable clinical significance.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D009584:Nitrogen