Abstract
A study was conducted to investigate effects of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) enriched-nutrient mixture on albumin metabolism in cirrhotic patients. The nutrient-mixture was given at the dose of 150g/day (17.7g BCAA/day) for 8 weeks to 5 cirrhotic patients with hypoalbuminemia (<3.5g/dl).
Kinetic parameters of albumin metabolism following intravenous injection of 131I-labelled human serum albumin were analyzed before and at 8 weeks after administration of the mixture, the following results were obtained;
1. Plasma BCAA (valine) level and BCCA/AAA (aromatic amino acid) molar ratio significantly elevated (P<0.01 and 0.05 respectively).
2. The biological half life of albumin was significantly shortened (P<0.01), while the degradation and synthesis rate of albumin significantly increased and recovered toward the control range. (P<0.05 and 0.01 respectively).
3. No significant changes were observed in body weight, plasma volume, plasma albumin concentration, intravascular albumin pool, and total albumin pool.
4. As to the relative distribution of albumin, a significant shift from the extravascular pool to the intravascular one was noted.
In conclusion, administration of BCAA enriched-nutrient mixture to cirrhotic patients seems to be clinically useful by improving albumin metabolism, in paticular albumin synthesis rate, even before serum albumin level increases.
