A pediatric amino acid solution for total parenteral nutrition does not affect liver function test results in neonates.

PURPOSE

We studied the effects of an amino acid mixture used for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in pediatrics, on the liver function test results (LFTs) of neonates.

METHODS

Thirty neonatal surgical patients were randomly divided into three groups according to the dose of amino acids given: group H ( n = 12, 3.45 +/- 0.07 g/kg per day), group M ( n = 8, 2.59 +/- 0.07 g/kg per day), and group L ( n = 10, 1.72 +/- 0.06 g/kg per day). All patients received the same amount of dextrose (average 21.5 g/kg per day) and no lipid.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in LFTs, namely, direct bilirubin, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and total bile acids, among the three groups on the tenth day of TPN.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that this amino acid solution for pediatrics has no significant effect on LFTs in neonates, even when high doses of amino acids (3.5 g/kg per day) are infused.