title: Amino acid administration to premature infants directly after birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that the administration of 2.4 g amino acids (AA)/(kg.d) to very low birth weight infants is safe and results in a positive nitrogen balance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized, clinical trial. Preterm infants with birth weights <1500 g received either glucose and 2.4 g AA/(kg.d) from birth onward (n=66) or solely glucose during the first day with a stepwise increase in AA intake to 2.4 g AA/(kg.d) on day 3 (n=69). Blood gas analysis was performed daily during the first 6 postnatal days; blood urea nitrogen levels were determined on days 2, 4, and 6; AA plasma concentrations and nitrogen balances were determined on days 2 and 4. Student t tests, Mann-Whitney tests, and chi2 tests were performed to compare groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants supplemented with AA had no major adverse side effects. Their blood urea nitrogen levels were higher, nitrogen balance turned positive upon AA administration, and more AA concentrations were within reference ranges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose AA administration to very low birth weight infants can be introduced safely from birth onward and results in an anabolic state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frans W J
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: te Braake
authors.forename: Chris H P
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van den Akker
authors.forename: Darcos J L
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wattimena
authors.forename: Jan G M
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Huijmans
authors.forename: Johannes B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: van Goudoever
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D009584:Nitrogen