Plasma amino acid profiles for different age groups and for breast fed infants

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to determine the amino acid profile across the entire age range of the normal population of the UAE. Subjects were selected consecutively from those attending general practitioner clinics, delivery wards, and well baby clinics until at least 20 subjects from each category were examined. The different categories were cord blood, pregnant mothers at delivery, infants from 0 - 3 months of age, breast fed-only infants [0 - 3 months], ages 4 - 6 months, 7 - 12 months, 13 months to 5 years, 6 - 12 years, 13 - 40 years, and > 40 years. Amino acid measurements were performed using ion-exchange chromatography. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for each value and t test was used to calculate differences between the means. Values of amino acid in delivering mothers were highest when compared to samples in other categories except for proline and glutamine. The values for all amino acids, except for threonine, alanine, ornithine, lysine and histidine which were constantly higher in the age group > 13 years, were similar in all age groups > 1 year of age. Values for aspartate, serine, asparagine, alanine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and arginine were higher in blood samples drawn from women at delivery than in the cord blood samples. The amino acid values in UAE women at delivery were also significantly higher than values in Western women published elsewhere. The results of samples drawn from mothers at delivery were surprisingly high for most amino acids probably due to the protein-rich food consumed by the UAE population and perhaps to genetic differences. New normal levels of each amino acid have been provided for the UAE population at different ages