AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 239, Issue 4 280-G287, Copyright © 1980 by American Physiological Society
Effect of parenteral nutrition on protein synthesis and liver fat metabolism in man
T. P. Stein, G. P. Buzby, M. H. Gertner, W. C. Hargrove, M. J. Leskiw and J. L. Mullen
We studied the effect of parenteral nutrition with amino acids and
hypertonic glucose on protein synthesis and liver fat metabolism. Patients
with operable gastrointestinal tract malignancies were divided into two
groups. Group I ate the hospital diet ad libitum for the 7-10 days
preceding surgery. Group II were given adjuvant parenteral nutrition (APN)
for 7-10 days prior to the surgical removal of the tumor. Daily nutrient
intake and nitrogen balance were determined. [15N[glycine (1-2 g) was
infused at a constant rate for 12-18 prior to surgery. During surgery,
blood, liver, and muscle specimens were taken for 15N analysis. Fractional
protein synthesis rates were estimated by the method of Garlick et al.
(Biochem. J. 136: 935-945, 1973). The fat content and distribution pattern
in the liver was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The
following results were found. 1) APN increaed the albumin synthesis rate.
2) The fraction of linoleate in the total liver fatty acids were reduced by
75% in the APN patients. 3) Some of the APN patients developed fatty livers
during the study. When the APN patients were subdivided on the basis of
whether they had fatty livers, it was found that only those patients who
did not accumulate fat showed an improvement in their plasma albumin
concentration during the period of parenteral nutrition.
