title: The effects of surgical trauma on plasma amino acid levels in humans.
abstract: Plasma amino acids were determined in humans after surgical trauma. The plasma amino acids were combined into several groups to determine if specific groups were responsible for alterations. The total concentration of plasma amino acids decreased after the operation and returned to preoperative levels and were elevated by postoperative day 10. The glucogenic amino acids, particularly aspartate and glutamate, were responsible for the decrease. The ketogenic and aromatic amino acids increased after operation. These results are confirmed by those reported in the rat and in humans with other types of operations. Plasma amino acids are not reliable indexes of the type of diet or of malnutrition and, based upon our previous data, are not likely to be reliable indexes of the degree or severity of trauma. The alterations observed after trauma do suggest that basic metabolic pathways are altered after trauma. As has been suggested previously, the alterations in plasma amino acids may relate to their use and possible need as gluconeogenic precursors. Prompt restoration of the plasma pools of those amino acids which appear to be depleted with surgical trauma may influence the course of convalescence.
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000097:blood; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007532:Isoleucine / Q000097:blood; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D007532:Isoleucine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D014443:Tyrosine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D000409:Alanine