Abstract
The leucine turnover in newborn infants is influenced by factors such as nutritional state and corticosteroid treatment. Little is known about maternal factors influencing the leucine turnover in the newborn. In order to approach the effect of preeclampsia in the mother on neonatal protein turnover, we studied the leucine turnover in preterm infants soon after birth and again after 7 days. Ten infants from preeclamptic mothers (birth weight 1,280 ± 240 g, gestational age 31 ± 2 weeks) and 15 control patients (birth weight 1,320 ± 210 g, gestational age 30 ± 2 weeks) were enrolled. The leucine turnover was measured using a primed constant 5-hour intravenous infusion of [1-<sup>13</sup>C]leucine within the first 24 h after delivery and again on day 7 of life. The turnover (leucine flux; µmol·kg<sup>–1</sup>·h<sup>–1</sup>) was calculated from the enrichment in α-ketoisocaproic acid in plasma. The leucine turnover on day 1 was 300 ± 65 in the preeclampsia group and 358 ± 70 in the controls (ANOVA, p < 0.05). The values on day 7 were 474 ± 73 in the preeclampsia group and 485 ± 80 in the control group (n.s.). To conclude, the leucine turnover on day 1 is lower in infants of preeclamptic mothers as compared with controls. This difference has disappeared on day 7 of life after receiving the same protein and energy intake.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
