Korean J Perinatol.  2010 Sep;21(3):266-272.

Effect of Low Versus High Parenteral Amino Acid Supplementation on Liver Unctions in Premature Infants

• Kang SJ
• Park EK
• Park HK
• Kim CR
• Seol IJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
To study the safety of more aggressive parenteral amino acid supplementation on liver functions during parenteral nutrition in preterm infants.
METHODS
Medical records of preterm infants (n=58) treated in the neonatal intensive care unit from 2004 through 2008 with birth weight less than 2,000 g and exposure to parenteral nutrition (PN) for more than 7 days were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups; low amino acid intake group (LAA, n=32) admitted from January 2004 to May 2006 and high amino acid intake group (HAA, n=26) admitted from June 2006 to July 2008. The incidence of cholestasis was compared between the two groups and the liver functions in infants with cholestasis were evaluated.
RESULTS
Mean protein intake was significantly higher in HAA (1.0+/-0.2 g/kg/day vs 2.1+/-0.6 g/kg/day, P=0.001). But there were no differences in the incidence and duration of cholestasis between the groups. And peak total bilirubin (T.bil), peak direct bilirubin (D.bil), peak alanine aminotransferase (ALT), peak asparate aminotransferase (AST), and peak alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in infants with cholestasis were not significantly different.
CONCLUSION
Aggressive parenteral amino acid supplementation in preterm infants were not associated significantly with the liver functions in this study.

Keyword

Amino acid; Cholestasis; Premature infants; Neonatal intensive care unit; Parenteral nutrition

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Alkaline Phosphatase
Bilirubin
Birth Weight
Cholestasis
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Intensive Care, Neonatal
Liver
Medical Records
Parenteral Nutrition
Alanine Transaminase
Alkaline Phosphatase
Bilirubin