[Balance studies in parenteral nutrition with "Alvesin neu" (author's transl)]

This is a report on clinical and biochemical metabolic investigations performed on 8 infant and 5 adult surgical patients treated with continous infusions of "Alvesin neu". This amino acid solution produced by the "VEB Berlin-Chemie" differs from Alvesin in that it adapts the essential amino acid pattern of the whole-egg protein amino acid relation. Furthermore, the pattern of non-essential amino acids was completed in comparison to "Alvesin". All infusions of "Alvesin neu" were well tolerated. Side effects did not occur. In the course of the infusion the alpha-amino nitrogen level of blood increased slowly. Serum levels of alanine, valine, phenylalanine and methionine analyzed through the column-chromatographic method were found to be slightly or moderately increased. Proline- and glutamic acid concentrations of serum were within the normal range. Elevated levels of glycine--as observed during "Alvesin" infusion in several cases--did not occur. The mean urinary loss of alpha-amino nitrogen was 14% in the infant and 17% in the adult patients group respectively. The daily total nitrogen retention rate in the infant group was +0,390 +/- 0,72 g on an average; the corresponding value in the adult group was -5,46 +/- 5,99 g N/day.