title: Urinary 3-methylhistidine derivative as indicator of nutrients intake in low-birth-weight infants.
abstract: Urinary excretion levels of N-methylhistidine derivatives and N-methylhistidine/creatinine ratios were studied in a group of 20 small for date newborns, 10 premature infants and 8 normal infants, at birth and at one week of life. All infants were fed with an adapted milk formula supplying 2.8 g protein/kg body weight. 1-methyl and 3-methylhistidine urinary excretion were increased in all groups of infants from birth to the 7th day of life. Creatinine and N-methyl derivatives/creatinine ratios were also significantly increased at one week of life. The two ratios showed a higher level in small for date and premature infants than in normal infants at birth which continued relatively increased at one week of life. 3-methyl-histidine/creatinine ratio appears as a useful indicator of the turnover rate of muscular proteins in low-birth-weight infants.
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D006639:Histidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008762:Methylhistidines / Q000652:urine*; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008762:Methylhistidines; D009124:Muscle Proteins; C028120:1-methylhistidine; D006639:Histidine; D003404:Creatinine; C028118:3-methylhistidine