[Branched amino acids. Role and value in parenteral nutrition]

The authors undertook a general review of the principal studies concerning branched amino acid (B.A.A.) and justifying their use in large doses during parenteral alimentation. Certain particular features emerge concerning valine, isoleucine and leucine which render these three amino acids particularly valuable:--their metabolism is essentially mascular and they escape hepatic control in great part, in contrast to other amion acids;--broken down by muscle, they represent a significant source of energy, sometimes the only available, but may also be used in numerous metabolic processes;--particularly sensitive to hormonal actions, their metabolism is in addition regulated by different non-hormonal factors;--their regulatory role of insulin secretion is considered to be important by many authors;--their original behaviour in certain pathological circumstances, and in particular in malnutrition states, the post-agressive phase and in hepatic failure, has resulted in progress in the physiopathology of these pathological states and above all led to valuable therapeutic deductions;--their toxicity is negligeable and they may be given in large amounts during parenteral alimentation without causin intolerance reactions or severe disturbances in plasma aminograms.