THE WEIGHT-DEPRESSING ACTION OF α-METHYL-DL-TRYPTOPHAN IN THE RAT

1962 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 739-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Sankoff ◽  
T. L. Sourkes

α-Methyl-DL-tryptophan, injected intraperitoneally into rats, has a weight-depressing action lasting up to 72 hours. Dosages in the range 0.015–2.0 millimoles/kg body weight (3.3–436 mg/kg) are effective. Attempts to antagonize the weight-depressing action by giving essential amino acids and B vitamins were unsuccessful. Metabolic studies have shown that about half the injected dose of the compound (or its derivatives), as measured by the Hopkins–Cole glyoxylic acid reaction, is excreted in the urine in 24 hours; most of this appears during the first 4 hours after the injection. Ina search for an explanation for the weight-depressing action of α-methyltryptophan, tryptophan pyrrolase activity in the liver was estimated. This enzymic activity increases for 8 hours after the injection of α-methyltryptophan, and thereafter remains high for 72 hours. Tryptophan-injected animals showed increases in tryptophan pyrrolase level for 1.5 hours, and a return to normal concentrations within 24 hours. Other α-methyl amino acids which were tested had no comparable effect on body weight.

1962 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 739-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Sankoff ◽  
T. L. Sourkes

α-Methyl-DL-tryptophan, injected intraperitoneally into rats, has a weight-depressing action lasting up to 72 hours. Dosages in the range 0.015–2.0 millimoles/kg body weight (3.3–436 mg/kg) are effective. Attempts to antagonize the weight-depressing action by giving essential amino acids and B vitamins were unsuccessful. Metabolic studies have shown that about half the injected dose of the compound (or its derivatives), as measured by the Hopkins–Cole glyoxylic acid reaction, is excreted in the urine in 24 hours; most of this appears during the first 4 hours after the injection. Ina search for an explanation for the weight-depressing action of α-methyltryptophan, tryptophan pyrrolase activity in the liver was estimated. This enzymic activity increases for 8 hours after the injection of α-methyltryptophan, and thereafter remains high for 72 hours. Tryptophan-injected animals showed increases in tryptophan pyrrolase level for 1.5 hours, and a return to normal concentrations within 24 hours. Other α-methyl amino acids which were tested had no comparable effect on body weight.


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Summers ◽  
J. L. Atkinson ◽  
D. Spratt

Pullets were brought into production on a low-protein corn, soybean meal diet to which various nutrients including essential amino acids, choline, corn oil and feathermeal were supplemented. Production commenced between 18 and 20 wk of age and up to at least 60% production, hens fed the low protein diets (10% CP) produced at least as many eggs and as great an egg mass as these given a 17% protein corn, soybean meal control diet. Pullets fed the corn, soybean meal test diets, peaked at around 80% as compared to slightly over 90% for the control. Egg production immediately fell for birds fed the test diets to around 70% for most of the test treatments. Body weight remained constant or fell after peak production for birds fed the test diets as compared to a normal increase for birds on the control diet. Egg size increased for the test diets at a rate which was comparable to that of the control birds. In a second experiment, with older hens, supplementation of the 10% protein test diet with methionine, lysine, arginine and tryptophan, resulted in intakes of these amino acids which met NRC minimum requirement levels. However, egg mass output was reduced approximately 11% compared to the 17% protein control diet. While intakes of several essential amino acids fell below requirement levels, the degree that valine was calculated to be deficient in both experiments corresponded closely with the reduction in egg mass output of hens fed the test as compared to the control diet. Key words: Lysine, methionine, egg weight, body weight, hens.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Corsetti ◽  
Evasio Pasini ◽  
Claudia Romano ◽  
Riccardo Calvani ◽  
Anna Picca ◽  
...  

1947 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. Miller ◽  
F. S. Robscheit-Robbins ◽  
G. H. Whipple

Dogs with sustained anemia and hypoproteinemia due to bleeding and a continuing low protein or protein-free diet with abundant iron are used to test the value of food proteins as contrasted with mixtures of pure amino acids. The stimulus of double depletion (anemia and hypoproteinemia) drives the body to use every source of protein and all protein-building materials with the utmost conservation. Raiding of body tissue protein to produce plasma protein and hemoglobin is a factor when protein-building factors are supplied in small amounts. In this severe test (double depletion) the good food proteins in adequate amounts are able to maintain body weight, a strongly positive nitrogen balance, and produce considerable amounts of new hemoglobin and plasma protein. Casein, lactalbumin, whole egg protein, liver protein are all adequate in amounts of 150 to 250 gm. protein per week. Under comparable conditions mixtures of pure amino acids (essential for growth) do produce large amounts of new hemoglobin and plasma protein and a positive nitrogen balance but do not maintain body weight. The loss of weight is conspicuous even with large amounts of amino acids (200 to 300 gm. protein equivalent per week). Methionine, threonine, and phenylalanine are related to nitrogen conservation in growth mixtures of essential amino acids (Paper I) but when these three are given together they have little influence on the doubly depleted dog (Table 3). Some unidentified substance or compound present in certain proteins but absent in mixtures of the essential amino acids may be responsible for these differences in the response of the doubly depleted dog.


2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.W. Dal Negro ◽  
R. Aquilani ◽  
S. Bertacco ◽  
F. Boschi ◽  
C. Micheletto ◽  
...  

Aim. Aim of the study was to investigate whether or not oral supplementation of essential amino acids (EAAs) may improve body composition, muscle metabolism, physical activity, cognitive function, and health status in a population of subjects with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sarcopenia. Methods. Thirty-two patients (25 males) (FEV1/FVC <40% predicted), age 75±7 years, were randomised (n=16 in both groups) to receive 4 gr/bid EAAs or placebo according to a double-blind design. When entered the study (T0), after four (T4), and after twelve (T12) weeks of treatments, body weight, fat free-mass (FFM), plasma lactate concentration (μmol/l), arterial PaCO2 and PaO2, physical activity (n° steps/day), cognitive function (Mini Mental State Examination; MMSE), health status (St.George’s Respiratory Questionnaire; SGRQ) were measured. Results. EAAs supplemented, but not patients assuming placebo, progressively improved all baseline variables overtime. In particular, at T12 of EAAs supplementation, body weight (BW) increased by 6 Kg (p=0.002), FFM by 3.6 Kg (p=0.05), plasma lactate decreased from 1.6 μmol/l to 1.3 μmol/l (p=0.023), PaO2 increased by 4.6 mmHg (p=0.01), physical activity increased by 80% (p=0.01). Moreover, the score for cognitive dysfunction improved from 19.1 scores to 20.8 (p=0.011), while the SRGQ score also improved from 72.3 to 69.6 even though this trend did not reach the statistical significance. Conclusions. A three-month EAAs supplementation may have comprehensive effects on nutritional status; muscle energy metabolism; blood oxygen tension, physical autonomy; cognitive function, and perception of health status in patients with severe COPD and secondary sarcopenia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 15-19
Author(s):  
I. I. Kushnir ◽  
O. Y. Tsisaryk ◽  
S. H. Shalovylo ◽  
B. V. Gutyj ◽  
G. V. Kushnir ◽  
...  

The article presents the results of determining the ability of enterococci extracted from traditional Carpathian cheese bryndza to produce biologically active substances, in particular, amino acids, B vitamins and cations (ammonium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium). It was found that the studied strains of enterococci in different quantities synthesized both essential and essential amino acids. Thus, the essential amino acid lysine was found in the cultivation of strains of E. durans SB18, E. durans SB20, in particular, its concentration was significantly increased by 15.6 and 10.4 %, respectively (P < 0.05) compared to the control. A probable increase in the essential amino acid histidine by 20 and 53.3 % (P < 0.05) was detected in the cultivation of only E. faecium SB12 and E. durans SB18. In addition, it was found a probable increase in threonine synthesis by enterococci E. durans SB6 and E. durans SB18, respectively – 33.3 and 39.6 % (P < 0.05). The replacement amino acid serine was able to synthesize strains of E. faecium SB12, E. durans SB18 and E. durans SB20, while its concentration increased by 40.0 (P < 0.001), 30.0 and 35.0 %, respectively < 0.01), and strains of E. durans, SB6, and E. durans SB18 synthesized glycine, the concentration of which increased by – 10.2 and 16.2 %, respectively (P < 0.01). In addition, it was found that the studied strains in small quantities synthesized B vitamins, or not synthesized at all. In all experimental samples the most vitamin B1 was detected, its concentration increased from 8.5 to 10.0 times (P < 0.001). Riboflavin was synthesized by three strains of enterococci – E. durans SB6, E. durans SB18, E. durans SB20, so the concentration of vitamin B2 probably increased, respectively, 4.1, 2.0 and 2.0 times (P < 0.05). Enterococci E. durans SB6, E. faecium SB12, E. durans SB18 and E. durans SB20 synthesized in significant quantities only vitamin B3, in particular, its concentration probably increased by 1.5, 1.5 (P < 0.05), respectively, 1.5 (P < 0.01) and 1.6 (P < 0.001) times, and vitamin B5 was produced by E. faecium SB12, E. durans SB18 and E. durans SB20, the concentration of nicotinic acid increased, respectively, 2.9 (P < 0.05), 8.4 and 9.5 (P < 0.001) times. Analysis of the macroelement composition of the supernatant of enterococci showed that strains of E. durans, SB6, E. faecium SB12, E. durans SB18 and E. durans SB20 are able to produce only Calcium, in particular, found a probable increase, respectively, in 1.8, 2.4, 1.6 and 1.4 times (P < 0.05).


1968 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. R. Young ◽  
N. S. Scrimshaw

1. Variation in endogenous nitrogen metabolism was determined by giving eleven healthy men, aged 17–22, a diet supplying daily only 6 mg N/kg body-weight. Eight subjects were given the diet for 7–10 days and three other subjects were given it for 16 days.2. Body cell mass (BCM) was calculated from whole-body 40K in ten subjects and basal metabolism was determined in seven subjects during the ‘protein-free’ period. Urine was analysed daily for N and creatinine, and faecal N was measured in pooled samples. Plasma free amino acids, serum albumin and protein were measured in preprandial morning blood samples at the beginning and end of the study.3. BCM did not change during the ‘protein-free’ period and accounted for 48% of the total body-weight. Basal calorie expenditure amounted to 48 ± 5 kcal/kg BCM per day.4. Mean daily endogenous urinary N excretion in the eight subjects given the ‘protein-free’ diet for 7–10 days was 36·6 ± 3·0 mg N/kg body-weight, 79·4 ± 4·4 mg N/kg BCM and 1·6 ± 0·2 mg N/basal kcal. Endogenous faecal N excretion was 9·9 ± 1·1 mg N/kg body-weight and accounted for 20% of the total endogenous loss. Results obtained with three other subjects given the diet for 16 days were similar.5. Plasma essential amino acids were reduced, glutamic acid, alanine and glycine increased, and the ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids decreased after 7 or 10 days of ‘protein-free’ diet.6. The loss of endogenous N per basal kcal and of faecal N per kg body-weight was lower than the values assumed in the factorial approach to protein requirements by the FAO/WHO (1965) Expert Group on Protein Requirements.


2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 117-123
Author(s):  
Alexandra V. Kuzmina

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by poor outcomes, an increasing frequency of new cases, the need for expensive method of renal replacement therapy at the terminal stage. The main task facing the doctor is slowing the progression of CKD and delay the start of dialysis by applying the nephroprotective strategy, of which diet therapy is an essential part. The key components of the diet for CKD patients are reducing sodium intake to 2.3 g per day in order to improve control of blood pressure (BP), dietary protein restriction adequate to renal function from 0.8 to 0.3 g/kg of body weight per day combined with the prescribing of ketoanalogues of essential amino acids, hyperglycemia control. With the progression of CKD, the main objectives of the diet therapy are the prevention/correction of complications: protein-energy waisting, metabolic acidosis, ensuring sufficient calories, corresponding to the bodys energy expenditures (3035 kcal/kg of body weight per day), limiting phosphate intake to 0.81 g a day, restriction of food potassium. Low-protein diet in combination with ketoanalogues of amino acids, regular monitoring and correction of the nutritional status of patients at the pre-dialysis stages of CKD is an effective and safe method of nephroprotection, which allows delaying the start of dialysis.


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