Serum Amino Acid Levels in Term and Preterm Neonates.
- Author:
You Sook YOUN
1
;
Sook Za KIM
;
Mea Young CHANG
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea. mychang@cnuh.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Serum amino acid;
Term;
Preterm;
Neonates
- MeSH:
Alanine;
Amino Acids;
Birth Weight;
Chungcheongnam-do;
Citrulline;
Gestational Age;
Glycine;
Humans;
Infant, Newborn*;
Leucine;
Methionine;
Phenylalanine;
Tandem Mass Spectrometry;
Tyrosine;
Valine
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Neonatology
2006;13(1):90-96
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was aimed to analyze the level of serum amino acids according to the sex, birth weight, gestational age in neonates. METHODS: Amino acid was measured by tandem mass spectrometry from the dried blood spots. We measured serum alanine, citrulline, glycine, methionine, ornitine, tyrosine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine levels in 172 neonates admitted to the NICU at Chungnam National University hospital from March 2003 to September 2003 and the data was analyzed according to the sex, birth weight, gestational age. RESULTS: There were no differences of serum amino acid level between term and preterm neonates according to the sex. However, there were significant statistical differences in serum amino acid level according to the birth weight (> or =2,500 g vs. <2,500 g) and gestational age (> or =37 weeks vs. <37 weeks). The level of alanine, citrulline, glycine, methionine, ornitine, tyrosine, valine, leucine was low in under 2,500 g (P<0.05), and in preterm neonates (P<0.05). Especially, preterm neonates under 1,800 g had low levels of valine and leucine (P<0.05). The serum levels of methionine, ornitine, valine, leucine were low in neonates with gestational age of less than 34 weeks (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Awareness of low serum amino acid levels in preterm neonates is essential to improve nutritional supplements and catch-up growth.
