Serum Amino Acid Levels in Term and Preterm Neonates

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to analyze the level of serum amino acids according to the sex, birth weight, gestational age in neonates. METHODS: Amino acid was measured by tandem mass spectrometry from the dried blood spots. We measured serum alanine, citrulline, glycine, methionine, ornitine, tyrosine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine levels in 172 neonates admitted to the NICU at Chungnam National University hospital from March 2003 to September 2003 and the data was analyzed according to the sex, birth weight, gestational age. RESULTS: There were no differences of serum amino acid level between term and preterm neonates according to the sex. However, there were significant statistical differences in serum amino acid level according to the birth weight (> or =2,500 g vs. or =37 weeks vs. <37 weeks). The level of alanine, citrulline, glycine, methionine, ornitine, tyrosine, valine, leucine was low in under 2,500 g (P<0.05), and in preterm neonates (P<0.05). Especially, preterm neonates under 1,800 g had low levels of valine and leucine (P<0.05). The serum levels of methionine, ornitine, valine, leucine were low in neonates with gestational age of less than 34 weeks (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Awareness of low serum amino acid levels in preterm neonates is essential to improve nutritional supplements and catch-up growth.

CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF SERUM AMINO ACID AND BLOOD-PRESSURE AMONG 8 CHINESE POPULATIONS / 营养学报

Eight populations including 4 Chinese districts and 4 nationalities 484 subjects (male, 40~59 years) were conducted for exploring amino acid (22 sorts)-BP relationship by multi-variate regression and discrimination analyses. Results showed:(1)The different amino acid levels found among "Ka-zak", "Han" and "Uygur" nationalities living in one of the same Xinjiang region might be a reflection of their diverse dietary patterns; while the difference seen between "Han" and "Yi" nationalities living in one of the same Quizhou area, taking similar diet, might be due to the inherited metabolic influence. (2) The levels of aspartic and (or) glutamic acids were the the highest in the Quizhou "Han" and "Yi" groups living in cold hilly area, while other amino acids were comparatively lower, in keeping with their BP, Quetelet's indices and serum urea levels to be the lowest, tentatively denoting that the tissue metabolic turnover rate might be also lower as well in these groups. (3) The serum levels of sulfur containing amino acids in those populations taking much animal foods, were all higher, therefor ethe lower incidences of cardio-cerebro-vascular diseases seen in fishmen can not be thus wholly ascribed to the high intake of fish meat rich in sulfur containing amino acids. (4) From BP regression equations, valine, cysteine, alanine, threonine were found to be the prohypertensives while glycine, leucine, methionine and phenylalanine,the antihypertensives.