title: Oral and parenteral nutrition with L-Valine: mode of action.
abstract: The intravenous application of the branched chain amino acid L-valine to patients with hepatic coma resulted in a specific drop of tryptophan, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid. Clinical improvement of hepatic encephalopathy and of the underlying neurotransmitter (serotonin) and ammonia derangements by administration of L-valine suggest a possible role of this competitive amino acid on intermediary metabolism and ammonia detoxification.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism*; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D000641:Ammonia; D014364:Tryptophan; D014633:Valine