Partial substitution of amino acids of a parenteral solution with tripeptides: Effects on parameters of protein nutrition in baboons

Abstract

We previously showed that triglycine and trileucine are efficiently utilized when infused intravenously (IV) in baboons who are fed a complete diet orally. In the present experiments we investigated the utilization of these tripeptides in the context of total parenteral nutrition. A group of subhuman primates (baboon) was subjected sequentially to two forms of total parenteral nutrition, each for a period of six days. The only difference between the two periods was that in one, all amino acids were given in free form, and in the other, the glycine and leucine components of the amino acid mixture were replaced with triglycine and trileucine, respectively. During both experimental periods the infusion solution provided daily 100 calories/kg body weight and 2.5 g amino acids/kg body weight. There were no significant differences between nitrogen balance, plasma amino acid concentrations, or urinary excretion of amino acids for the two forms of parenteral nutrition. The only exceptions were a greater plasma concentration of isoleucine and a greater urinary excretion of leucine during infusion of the partial peptide solution. Assimilation of triglycine and trileucine under the conditions of total parenteral nutrition was assessed by determining concentrations of these peptides in plasma and urine. Trileucine was not found in plasma, and only 1.8% of the amount of trileucine infused appeared as trileucine and dileucine in urine. Triglycine was detected in plasma and 17.1% of the amount of triglycine infused was excreted in urine as triglycine and diglycine. These data suggest that assimilation of trileucine and triglycine under the conditions of our experiment was sufficiently efficient to meet the daily need for an essential amino acid (leucine) and for nitrogen (glycine).