Metabolic studies with keto acids in uremia.

The utilization of a preparation containing the keto analogues of five essential amino acids was evaluated by nitrogen balance studies in five uremic patients receiving an 18 g protein diet. In all five patients the nitrogen balance improved when the diet was supplemented with ketoacids, becoming positive in three cases, and about zero in one case. In two cases the improvement in nitrogen utilization occurred without a prior period of adaptation with the protein-poor diet. The nitrogen balance was negative in two cases when reinvestigated after about 7 weeks, but one of these cases had a slight infection at the time of the study.