title: Failure of BCAA supplementation to promote nitrogen retention in injured patients.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if supplementing total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with lipids or the branched chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine, and valine influences nitrogen balance in the injured patient. Four TPN study solutions were used, with each patient receiving two of the solutions for 4 days each. Group A received solutions consisting of 19% and 44% BCAA, with nonnitrogen calories supplied by 100% carbohydrate. Group B received a 7:3 carbohydrate-to-lipid ratio of nonnitrogen calories as a fuel source. Neither BCAA supplementation nor varying fuel substrates promoted a difference in nitrogen retention. The added cost of BCAA supplementation, along with the lack of an effect upon nitrogen accretion, indicates that greater benefits must be demonstrated before widespread use of BCAA supplementation can be recommended in the injured patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Scholten
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Albrecht
mesh_terms: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009584:Nitrogen