Open AccessOrnithine-alpha-ketoglutarate Improves Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis as Assessed by Ribosome Analysis and Nitrogen Use After Surgery
Author(s) -
Jan Wernerman,
Folke Hammarqvist,
Alexandra von der Decken,
E. Vinnars
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
annals of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.153
H-Index - 309
eISSN - 1528-1140
pISSN - 0003-4932
DOI - 10.1097/00000658-198711000-00020
Subject(s) - ornithine , medicine , nitrogen balance , parenteral nutrition , alpha (finance) , endocrinology , polysome , excretion , ribosome , protein biosynthesis , biochemistry , surgery , amino acid , biology , nitrogen , chemistry , arginine , rna , construct validity , organic chemistry , gene , patient satisfaction
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was given for 3 days after elective abdominal surgery. The control group (N = 9) received TPN only and one group of patients (N = 6) received TPN supplemented with ornithine-alpha-ketoglutarate (0.35 g/kg bw/day). Protein synthesis in skeletal muscle was assessed from the total ribosome concentration and the percentage of polyribosomes. In the control group the total concentration of ribosomes decreased after surgery by 23% (p less than 0.05) and the percentage of polyribosomes decreased by 21% (p less than 0.01), whereas in the ornithine-alpha-ketoglutarate group both variables remained unaffected. The cumulative urinary urea excretion was significantly larger in the control group than in the ornithine-alpha-ketoglutarate group (p less than 0.05). The calculated nitrogen balance was negative in the control group on each day of the study (p less than 0.05), but that of the ornithine-alpha-ketoglutarate group was not statistically different from zero. The results show that postoperative maintenance of muscle protein synthesis and a more effective nitrogen use was achieved by supplementing TPN with ornithine-alpha-ketoglutarate, 0.35 g/kg bw/day.