Metabolic evaluation of a synthetic amino acid mixture for parenteral nutrition in infants and children.

Ninety infants and children received total parenteral nutrition with a mixture of glucose, crystalline amino acids, vitamins, electrolytes, and minerals. The mixture was generally well-tolerated with a minimum of complications. The intravenous regimen produced positive nitrogen balance and weight gain in the majority of subjects. The amino acids provided maintained the protein pool in these patients as a further indication of utilization. Mild, transient, asymptomatic elevations in blood urea nitrogen occurred in a few low-birth-weight infants who probably received insufficient nonprotein calories relative to their needs. Hypophosphatemia and acidosis did not occur. It is concluded that this regimen is safe, effective method of providing total parenteral nutrition, provided that adequate nonprotein calories are provided.