Abstract
<p> <h4 id="x-x-absSec_1"> Background </h4> <p id="x-x-"> Poor growth has been described in patients with urea cycle enzyme defects treated with protein-restricted diets, while protein status is seldom reported. <h4 id="x-x-absSec_2"> Objective </h4> <p id="x-x-"> To assess the effects of nutritional therapy with a medical food on growth and protein status of patients with a urea cycle enzyme defect. <h4 id="x-x-absSec_3"> Methods </h4> <p id="x-x-"> A 6-mo multicenter outpatient study was conducted with infants and toddlers managed by nutrition therapy with Cyclinex-1 Amino Acid-Modified Medical Food with Iron (Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH). Main outcome variables were anthropometrics and plasma amino acids (selected), albumin, and transthyretin concentrations. <h4 id="x-x-absSec_4"> Results </h4> <p id="x-x-"> Seventeen patients completed the study. Mean (±SE) baseline age was 11.30 ± 3.20 months (median 4.40 months; range 0.22–38.84 months). Length and weight <em> z </em> -scores increased significantly during the 6-month study. Head circumference increased, but not significantly. Three patients were stunted and two were wasted (−2.0 <em> z </em> -score) at baseline while at study end, only one patient was both stunted and wasted. The majority of patients increased in length, head circumference, and weight <em> z </em> -scores during study. Mean (±SE) plasma albumin concentration increased from 34 ± 2 g/L at baseline to 38 ± 1 g/L at study end. Plasma transthyretin increased from a mean (±SE) of 177 ± 13 mg/L at baseline to 231 ± 15 mg/L at study end. No correlation was found between plasma NH <sub> 3 </sub> concentrations and medical food intake. Plasma NH <sub> 3 </sub> concentration was positively correlated with the percentage of Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization/United Nations recommended protein ingested. <h4 id="x-x-absSec_5"> Conclusions </h4> <p id="x-x-"> Intakes of adequate protein and energy for age result in anabolism and linear growth without increasing plasma NH <sub> 3 </sub> concentrations. Medical food intakes did not correlate with plasma NH <sub> 3 </sub> concentrations. </p> </p> </p> </p> </p></p>
Original language | American English |
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Journal | Molecular Genetics and Metabolism |
Volume | 86 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2005 |
Keywords
- Growth
- Nutrition Management
- Protein Status
- Urea Cycle Enzyme Defects
Disciplines
- Medical Specialties
- Medicine and Health Sciences
- Pediatrics