Whole body protein synthesis in relation to basal energy expenditure in healthy children and in children recovering from burn injury.

Dynamic aspects of whole body nitrogen metabolism in children recovering from burn injury have been examined in relation to basal metabolic rate (BMR). A continuous administration of [15N]glycine was used to estimate the rates of whole body protein synthesis (S) and breakdown (C) in five acutely burned children (ages 5-16 years) and in nine healthy subjects (ages 9-18 years). S (grams of protein per kg body wt per day) and BMR were significantly correlated (r = +0.73; P less than 0.01). There was no significant correlation of C with BMR. The ratio of S (grams of protein per day) to BMR (kilocalories per day) was the same in burned and healthy children; the mean value for all children was 0.10 +/- 0.03 g protein synthesis/basal kcal. Calorie intake and S were significantly correlated (r = +0.70; P less than 0.01). There were significant correlations between BMR and percentage of total body surface area burned (r = +0.66; P less than 0.01), and BMR and age (r = -0.57; P less than 0.05). Age did not correlate significantly with percent of total body surface burned.