Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2014, 158(3):346-355 | DOI: 10.5507/bp.2014.034

The importance and dosage of amino acids in nutritional support of various pathological conditions in ICU patients

Petra Pavlickova Aimovaa,b, Miloslav Hroneka,b, Zdenek Zadakb
a Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University in Prague, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
b Department of Research and Development, University Hospital Hradec Kralove

Background: Normal adults require twenty L-amino acids (AA) for protein synthesis. Functional AA regulate key metabolic pathways that are necessary for maintenance, growth, reproduction and immunity. Dietary supplementation with one or a mixture of these AA may be beneficial for ameliorating health problems at various stages of the life cycle and for optimizing of the efficiency of metabolic transformations. During disease, other amino acids also become essential. The principal goal of protein/amino acid administration in various pathological conditions in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is to provide the precursors of protein synthesis in tissues with high turnover and to protect skeletal muscle mass and function. Amino acid requirements in parenteral nutrition (PN) are higher when the patient is stressed/traumatized/infected than in the unstressed state. In severely ill ICU patients a higher provision of protein and amino acids has been associated with a lower mortality.

Methods and Results: An overview of the effects and dosage of amino acids in nutritional support of various pathological conditions in ICU patients is presented.

Conclusion: It was demonstrated that 2.0-2.5 g protein substrate/kg normal body weight/day is safe and could be optimal for the most critically ill adults to decrease the risk of morbidity and mortality in some pathological conditions.

Keywords: amino acids, nutritional support, ICU patiens

Received: January 29, 2014; Accepted: June 6, 2014; Prepublished online: June 25, 2014; Published: September 30, 2014  Show citation

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Pavlickova Aimova, P., Hronek, M., & Zadak, Z. (2014). The importance and dosage of amino acids in nutritional support of various pathological conditions in ICU patients. Biomedical papers, 158(3), 346-355. doi: 10.5507/bp.2014.034
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