Can glutamine and growth hormone promote protein anabolism in children with cystic fibrosis?
To determine whether recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), glutamine (GLN) or a combination of both agents can enhance protein synthesis in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, six 9.6 +/- 0.5-year-old prepubertal children (4 M, 2 F) with CF and stable lung disease with undernutrition (weight/height <50th percentile) or delayed growth (height <5th percentile) received stable isotope infusions, in the postabsorptive state and on 4 separate study days: (a) at baseline, and after a 4-week treatment with either, (b) oral GLN (0.7 g/kg/day), (c) rhGH (0.3 mg/kg/week, SC), or (d) both GLN and rhGH. Four-hour infusions of (13)C-leucine were used to assess leucine appearance rate (Ra, an index of protein breakdown), oxidation (Ox), and non-oxidative leucine disposal (NOLD, an index of protein synthesis). Results are expressed as changes (%) from baseline:We conclude that in children with CF: (1) due to high inter-subject variability, oral glutamine does not significantly enhance protein gain; (2) rhGH has significant anabolic effects which are mediated by stimulation of protein synthesis, and (3) glutamine does not enhance the effect of rhGH.
Hayes
V
V
Division of Endocrinology, Nemours Children's Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla., USA.
Schaeffer
D
D
Mauras
N
N
Punati
J
J
Darmaun
D
D
D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D007930:Leucine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis
D001639:Bicarbonates; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005973:Glutamine; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007930:Leucine