Effects of hypocaloric dextrose and amino acids on body composition and nitrogen balance in rats.

Studies were conducted to compare the effects of isocaloric intake of glucose, amino acids, and combinations of these nutrients on nitrogen balance, body composition, and selected metabolic parameters of adult rats. Diets were administered either orally or intravenously at 20% (semi-starvation) of the daily caloric requirement. Although nitrogen balance was improved when all calories were supplied as amino acids when compared to glucose alone, one-half the amino acids could be replaced with glucose without sacrificing nitrogen balance. Animals from the semi-starvation treatment showed similar weight and body composition changes, there was no apparent difference whether the diets were administered orally or intravenously. These results indicate that replacement of at least one-half the calories of an all amino acid hypocaloric diet with glucose does not adversely affect body composition weight change or nitrogen balance, but may reduce blood urea nitrogen, ketosis, and cost of nutritional support.