title: Relative value of glucose and amino acids in preserving exercise capacity in the postoperative period.
abstract: The value of crystalline amino acids compared with glucose in maintaining functional muscle mass (maximum exercise capacity) in the perioperative period was studied. Twelve surgical patients received 100 g of glucose (Group 1) for 7 to 10 days perioperatively, and 12 (Group 2) received 90 g of crystalline amino acids for a similar period. Maximum exercise capacity, nitrogen balance, and serum albumin were studied. The use of amino acids instead of glucose spared nitrogen. Net nitrogen loss was 64.7 +/- 6.7 g in Group 1 compared with 34.7 +/- 4 g in Group 2 (p less than or equal to 0.001). Exercise capacity decreased 13.8 +/- 4.5 percent in Group 1 and 13.3 +/- 2.9 percent in group 2. The serum albumin level decreased by 0.30 +/- 0.2 g/100 ml in Group 1 compared with 0.34 +/- 0.15 g/100 ml in Group 2. These differences were not significant. Changes in serum albumin were correlated with changes in exercise capacity (r = 0.7, p less than or equal to 0.002), but neither was significantly correlated with nitrogen loss. We concluded that the use of amino acids instead of glucose during moderate periods of semi-starvation associated with moderate trauma will not influence loss of exercise capacity significantly, although some nitrogen will be spared; patients undergoing moderately severe surgical procedures accompanied by moderate periods of semistarvation will lose approximately 14 percent of their exercise capacity; and loss of exercise capacity is not correlated with loss of nitrogen under these conditions but is loosely correlated with changes in serum albumin levels.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D005080:Exercise Test; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D012709:Serum Albumin; D005947:Glucose; D009584:Nitrogen