ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Tryptophan not only is an amino acid essential to protein synthesis but also serves as a precursor in 2 important metabolic pathways: the serotonin and the kynurenine pathways. Tryptophan is related to sleeping patterns. The objective of the present study was to determine the tryptophan requirement of term infants using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method with L-[1-C]phenylalanine as the indicator. METHODS: Enterally fed infants were randomly assigned to tryptophan intakes ranging from 0.5 to 73âmgâ·âkgâ·âday as part of an elemental diet. After 1-day adaptation to the test diet, [C]bicarbonate and L-[1-C]phenylalanine tracers were given enterally. Breath samples were collected at baseline and during isotopic plateaus. The mean tryptophan requirement was determined by using the biphasic linear regression crossover analysis on the fraction of CO2 recovery from L-[1-C]phenylalanine oxidation (FCO2). Data are presented as meanâ±âstandard deviation. RESULTS: A total of 30 term neonates (gestational age 39â±â1 weeks) were studied at 9â±â4 days. FCO2 decreased until a tryptophan intake of 15âmgâ·âkgâ·âday; additional increases in tryptophan intake did not affect FCO2. Mean requirement was determined to be 15âmgâ·âkgâ·âday. CONCLUSIONS: The mean tryptophan requirement for elemental formula-fed term infants is 15âmgâ·âkgâ·âday. This requirement is lower than the present recommended intake of 29âmgâ·âkgâ·âday, which is based on the average intake of a breastfed infant.
