Effect of dietary protein on bed-rest-related changes in whole-body-protein synthesis

Article Abstract:

Patients who are put on bed rest or are otherwise immobilized use their muscles much less than normal. Consequently, the muscles become weak as the protein in them breaks down. The body's balance between synthesis and catabolism (breakdown) of proteins becomes negative, meaning more protein is being broken down than being built. Thus, patients who are on bed rest typically have a negative protein balance. Some studies have found that both normal subjects and patients with muscle wasting diseases synthesized more protein if the amount of protein in the diet was increased. This study was conducted to assess whether the catabolism associated with bed rest is the result of decreased protein synthesis, and if it is, whether increased protein in the diet might counteract this process. The subjects were 12 healthy young men who were put on bed rest for seven days. Half the men were given a diet containing 0.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day while the other half were given 1.0 gram of protein per kilogram per day. The two diets contained the same total number of calories. Protein balance was evaluated by measuring the turnover of leucine, an amino acid. It was concluded that bed rest did not increase the whole-body protein breakdown, but that whole-body protein synthesis was decreased when the protein supplied by the diet was low. The higher protein diet protected against this reduction in protein synthesis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Abnormalities, Physiological aspects, Muscles, Muscle proteins, Protein metabolism, Bed rest

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Estimating energy requirements in burned children: a new approach derived from measurements of resting energy expenditure

Article Abstract:

Burn injuries can greatly increase the nutritional requirements of the body; extra energy and protein are needed to allow for healing. It is believed that providing nutritional support for burn patients reduces their risk of illness and death. The resting energy expenditure (REE) is the amount of energy that is required to maintain normal body functions while the body is resting, as opposed to during activity. In order to maintain an adequate balance of energy, the amount of energy taken in has to equal the amount of energy used. A study was performed to determine the amount of energy required to maintain an adequate balance between energy intake and expenditure (use) in burned children. It has been suggested that the equations used to calculate their energy needs have overestimated the caloric requirements; this should be corrected because giving an excess of calories may have adverse effects. The researchers studied the relationships among REE, predicted basal energy expenditure (PBEE, another measure of energy use at rest), body weight, burn size, and days since the burn injury occurred. They determined that the energy requirements of the burned children were, as predicted, significantly lower than current guidelines suggest, particularly for children with large burns. Equations are provided for calculating caloric requirements in children with burns according to the authors' findings. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Measurement, Children, Burns and scalds in children, Pediatric injuries, Energy metabolism, Burn therapy, Energy metabolism in children

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Reversal of catabolism by beta-blockade after severe burns

Article Abstract:

Beta blockers may prevent the muscle wasting that often occurs in burn patients, according to a study of 25 children with severe burns. The breakdown of muscle protein after a severe burn can last for months and can interfere with rehabilitation.

Evaluation, Prevention, Drug therapy, Adrenergic beta blockers, Adrenergic beta-antagonists, Cachexia

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