Zinc Deficiency in a Full-Term Breast-Fed Infant: Unusual Presentation

Zinc is an essential trace mineral for all mammals. The activities of many enzymes, including those needed for protein synthesis, are zinc dependent. It is therefore not surprising that zinc deficiency is cinically expressed in rapidly growing tissues. Zinc deficiency commonly presents with specific skin lesions, diarrhea, growth failure, alopecia, irritability, and anorexia. Acquired zinc deficiency is an uncommon entity. It has most often been described in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition with inadequate or no zinc in the nutrient mixture.1,2 It has also been described in breast-fed premature babies3,4 in whom symptoms become apparent by 4 to 5 months of age.

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Effect of glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition on septic rats

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs0810215 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 81 (2) ◽

pp. 215-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

M. Salleh M. Ardawi

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Parenteral Nutrition ◽

Protein Degradation ◽

Total Parenteral Nutrition ◽

Nitrogen Balance ◽

Cumulative Percentage ◽

Better Than

1. The effect of total parenteral nutrition with or without glutamine enrichment was studied in septic rats after 4 days of treatment. 2. Septic rats treated with glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition survived sepsis significantly better than other TPN-treated septic rats: the cumulative percentage of deaths over 4 days in septic rats treated with glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition was 25% compared with 55% in septic rats given total parenteral nutrition without glutamine and 70% in septic rats given glucose. 3. Glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition resulted in improved nitrogen balance in septic rats: the cumulative nitrogen balance over the 4 days of treatment was the least negative as compared with other groups of septic rats. 4. The rate of loss of intracellular glutamine in skeletal muscle was markedly decreased (P < 0.001) in response to glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition in septic rats. 5. The rate of protein synthesis was increased (21.2%) and the rate of protein degradation was decreased (35.5%) in response to glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition in septic rats. 6. It is concluded that the administration of glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition is beneficial to septic rats and possibly to septic patients.

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Effect of total parenteral nutrition, systemic sepsis, and glutamine on gut mucosa in rats

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.1992.263.2.e368 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 263 (2) ◽

pp. E368-E373 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

S. Yoshida ◽

M. J. Leskiw ◽

M. D. Schluter ◽

K. T. Bush ◽

R. G. Nagele ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Parenteral Nutrition ◽

Total Parenteral Nutrition ◽

Glutamine Supplementation ◽

Constant Infusion ◽

Systemic Sepsis ◽

Gut Mucosa ◽

Mucosal Morphology ◽

Mucosal Protein

The effect of the combination of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and systemic sepsis on mucosal morphology and protein synthesis was investigated. Rats were given a standard TPN mixture consisting of glucose (216 kcal.kg-1.day-1), lipid (24 kcal.kg-1.day-1), and amino acids (1.5 g N.kg-1.day-1) for 5 days. On the 5th day the rats (n = 37) were randomized into four groups according to diet as follows: 1) control nonseptic on standard TPN, 2) control nonseptic on TPN with glutamine, 3) septic on standard TPN, and 4) septic with the TPN supplemented with glutamine. Twenty hours after the injection of Escherichia coli, the rats were given a 4-h constant infusion of [U-14C]leucine to determine the mucosal fractional protein synthesis rates. The following results were obtained. 1) Histological examination showed that systemic sepsis caused tissue damage to the ileum and jejunum. 2) Glutamine supplementation attenuated these changes. 3) There were no visible changes to the colon either from glutamine supplementation or sepsis. 4) Sepsis was associated with an increase in mucosal protein synthesis and decreased muscle synthesis. 5) Addition of glutamine to the TPN mix further increased protein synthesis in the intestinal mucosa of septic rats.

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