Abstract
The aim of the study was to explore if changes in muscle and plasma amino acid concentrations developed during growth and differed from levels seen in adults. The gradient and concentrations of free amino acids in muscle and plasma were investigated in relation to age in metabolic healthy children. Plasma and specimens from the abdominal muscle were obtained during elective surgery. The children were grouped into three groups (group 1: < 1 year, n = 8; group 2: 1–4 years, n = 13 and group 3: 5–15 years, n = 15). A reference group of healthy adults (21–38 years, n = 22) was included in their comparisons and reflected specific differences between children and adults. In muscle the concentrations of 8 out of 19 amino acids analysed increased with age, namely taurine, aspartate, threonine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, histidine, as well as the total sums of branched chain amino acids (BCAA), basic amino acids (BAA) and total sum of amino acids (P < 0.05). In plasma the concentrations of threonine, glutamine, valine, cysteine, methionine, leucine, lysine, tryptophane, arginine, BCAA, BAA and the essential amino acids correlated with age (P < 0.05). These results indicate that there is an age dependency of the amino acid pattern in skeletal muscle and plasma during growth.
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The skilled technical assistance of Mrs Christina Hebert and Mrs Liselott Thunblad are gratefully acknowledged. Sources of financial support: The Swedish Medical Research Council (Project 04210), The Stockholm County Council, Public Health and Medical Science, Department of Development and Teaching, the TRYGG-HANSA Research Fund and the Åke Wiberg Research Fund, The Crown Princess Lovisa and Axel Thielman Foundation.
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Hammarqvist, F., Angsten, G., Meurling, S. et al. Age-related changes of muscle and plasma amino acids in healthy children. Amino Acids 39, 359–366 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-009-0446-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-009-0446-1