Pre-operative starvation in children. The role of alanine in blood glucose homeostasis.
Ninety-two children aged between 8 months and 8 years were fasted overnight prior to surgery. Plasma glucose and alanine concentrations were measured after the induction of anaesthesia. Of 30 children under four years, 23% had plasma glucose concentrations less than 3.3 mmol/litre. Underweight children were particularly at risk. The mean plasma alanine was low (0.17 mmol/litre) indicative of a shortfall in this essential substrate for gluconeogenesis. This probably reflects the greater obligatory glucose need of young children relative to their body protein mass.
D000409:Alanine / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005215:Fasting / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care
D001786:Blood Glucose; D000409:Alanine