S. DeSilva, M. Hana, V. G. Sutija, K. Raziuddin
Effect of amino acids on glucose tolerance and hyperkalemia in very low birth weight infants
Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate
alimentation of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants
and its effect on blood concentration of glucose, urea
nitrogen, creatinine and potassium.
Methods: The subjects were 100 VLBW infants born
between 1993–1999. The gestational age ranged from
23 to 32 weeks and the birth weight from 443 to 1470 g.
Intravenous glucose infusions were begun shortly after
birth, amino acids on day 3 and lipids on day 4. Blood
samples were drawn for determinations of urea nitrogen,
creatinine and potassium.
Results: Mean caloric intake of glucose rose from
24.7 kcal/kg/day on day 1 to 58.1 kcal/kg/day on day 8
(p < 0.0001) and of amino acids from 1.1 g/kg/day
on day 3 to 1.9 g/kg/day on day 8 (p < 0.0001). Potassium
administration increased from 1 mq/kg/day on
day 2 to 1.9 mq/kg/day on day 8. Urea nitrogen was at
a mean level of 21.4 mg/dl on day 4 and declined
afterwards (p < 0.0001). Serum potassium levels declined
from 5.9 mmol/L on day 2 to 4.1 mmol/L on
day 8 (p < 0.0001), while creatinine levels remained
stable.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a catabolic state
in VLBW infants begins to be reversed when the caloric
intake of 40–50 kcal/kg/day is achieved.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 30, 04/2002
Pages: 128 - 131
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