Development of urea-synthesizing capacity in preterm infants during the first weeks of life.
The urea-synthesizing capacity of the liver was studied in 20 healthy preterm infants during the first month of life. The urea-synthesizing capacity was estimated by the ratio of 15N abundances of ammonia and urea in the 6-hour urine after administration of 3 mg 15N-labelled ammonium chloride/kg body weight. The ratio increases with increasing protein intakes from the 2nd to the 3rd week of life. On protein intakes of more than 3 g/kg/protein day from the 3rd week to the end of the 2nd month of life, the ratio decreases suggesting a maturation of the urea cycle during the first weeks of life.
Boehm
G
G
Department of Pediatrics, University of Leipzig, FRG.
Teichmann
B
B
Jung
K
K
D000367:Age Factors; D000641:Ammonia / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism*
D000641:Ammonia; D014508:Urea