title: Amino acids and proteins.
abstract: Amino acids and protein are key factors for growth. The neonatal period requires the highest intake in life to meet the demands. Those demands include amino acids for growth, but proteins and amino acids also function as signalling molecules and function as neurotransmitters. Often the nutritional requirements are not met, resulting in a postnatal growth restriction. However, current knowledge on adequate levels of both amino acid as well as protein intake can avoid under nutrition in the direct postnatal phase, avoid the need for subsequent catch-up growth and improve later outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital - AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: van Goudoever
authors.forename: Hester
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vlaardingerbroek
authors.forename: Chris H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van den Akker
authors.forename: Femke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Groof
authors.forename: Sophie R D
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: van der Schoor
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000502:physiology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development; D009751:Nutritional Requirements
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D004044:Dietary Proteins