title: Reduced serum amino acid concentrations in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether premature infants who have necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) have deficiencies in glutamine (GLN) and arginine (ARG), which are essential to intestinal integrity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 4-month prospective cohort study of serum amino acid and urea levels in premature infants was done. Serum amino acid and urea levels were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography and enzymatic methods, respectively, on samples obtained on days of life 3, 7, 14, and 21.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants in the control (n = 32) and NEC groups (n = 13) were comparable for birth weight, gestational age, and Apgar scores. NEC began on mean day of life 14.5 (95% CI, day of life 11 to 18). Median values of GLN were 37% to 57% lower in the NEC group on days 7, 14, and 21 compared with those in the control group (P <.05). On days 7 and 14, median values of ARG, GLN, alanine, lysine, ornithine, and threonine were decreased 36% to 67% (P <.05) in the NEC group. Total nonessential amino and total essential amino acids were 35% to 50% lower in the NEC group on days 7 and 14 (P <.05). Infants in the NEC group had significant reductions in GLN and ARG 7 days before the onset of NEC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infants who have NEC have selective amino acid deficiencies including reduced levels of GLN and ARG that may predispose to the illness.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Becker
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Wu
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Galanko
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Chen
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Maynor
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Bose
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Rhoads
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001120:Arginine / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000097:blood*; D005865:Gestational Age; D005973:Glutamine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008895:Milk, Human; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine; D014508:Urea; D001120:Arginine