[Characteristics of the amino acid spectrum of the blood of children with intellectual deficiency].

The amino acid spectrum of blood serum was examined in 10 mentally normal children and 84 children aged 7-11 years (predominantly boys) with different degrees of intellectual deficiency (borderline intellectual deficiency, oligophrenia in the degree of debility) complicated by syndromes of motor disinhibition and torpor. Deviations in the levels of free amino acids in mentally retarded children were not very marked as is the case with hereditary enzymopathies. Most of the children had high blood concentrations of asparaginic acid and ammonia. The authors believe that children with acquired changes in the processes responsible for disposal of ammonia may be referred to a group of risk with regard to intellectual insufficiency. The results are discussed from the viewpoint of the correlation between dicarboxylic amino acids metabolism and the cycle of urea and polyamines synthesis.