Nitrogen sparing effects and mechanisms of branched-chain amino acids in the injured rat.

Abstract A series of experiments in a rat injury model were designed to elucidate the role and mechanisms of branched-chain amino acids in the post-injury catabolism. Our results suggest that: 1. 1. Nutritional support can maintain nitrogen equilibrium in the early post-operative state. 2. 2. Branched chain amino acids exert a nitrogen sparing effect and thus prevent or minimise post-operative catabolism. 3. 3. Increasing the amount of infused branched chain amino acids results in improved nitrogen retention. 4. 4. A balanced amino-acid mixture containing 45 per cent branched chain amino acids seems to be optimal for nutritional support in the post-injury state.