The main determinants of nitrogen balance during total parenteral nutrition in critically ill injured and malnourished patients [DETERMINANTI DEL BILANCIO AZOTATO NELLA NPT DI PAZIENTI TRAUMATIZZATI E DEFEDATI]

Factors influencing nitrogen balance during total parenteral nutrition have been investigated in 38 malnourished patients and 34 injured patients. According to multiple regression analysis, nitrogen intake (0.21 ± 0.001 g kg-1 day-1 and 0.21 ± 0.16 g kg-1 day-1 in injured patients means ± s.d.) proved to be the major determinant of positive nitrogen balance followed by non protein energy intake in malnourished patients and energy intake and basal energy expenditure ratio in injured patients. Non protein calorie to nitrogen ratio appeared to have little significance on nitrogen balance when corrected for the former variable in both groups