THE PLASMA AMINOGRAMS OF VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS ON SUPPLEMENTARY INTRAVENOUS AMINO ACIDS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LIFE

MB233G: is an amino acid (aa) preparation formulated with reference to cord blood aa of the mid trimester foetus i.e. it has been designed specifically for newborn infants. In 1 year, 52 infants with birthweight <1500g were partially or wholly i.v. fed as full enteral feeds were not tolerated. 42 infants were evaluated (exclusions: 6 infants dying <6 days, 4 who received aa's for <5 days). 19 infants were <1000g. Parenteral nutrition was provided as dextrose, electrolytes, MB233G, and Intralipid by peripheral infusion. The i.v. aa load increased from 0.37 (range 0.06-2.1)g/Kg/d on day 1 to 1.31 (0.01-2.4)g/Kg/d on day 6 (Nitrogen intake 0.058 (0.01-0.32)g/Kg/d on day 1 to 0.20 (0.01-0.37)g/Kg/d on day 6). The enteral intake of expressed breast milk or formula contributed a further 0.03 (0-0.23)g nitrogen/Kg/d on day 1 to 0.10 (0-0.47)g/Kg/d on day 6. Plasma aminograms (L.K.B. 4400 aminoanalyser) on the 5th day (day 6) of the aa infusion showed cystine levels lower than the foetal cord range and aspartate levels higher. All other aa's fell within the normal reference range.