High-carbohydrate/low-protein-induced hyperinsulinemia does not improve protein balance in children after cardiac surgery

V. G. Geukers*, Z. Li, M.T. Ackermans, A. P. Bos, L. Jinfeng, H.P. Sauerwein

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In pediatric cardiac surgery, fluid-restricted low-protein (LoProt) diets account for cumulative protein deficits with increased morbidity. In this setting, we aimed to inhibit proteolysis by a high-carbohydrate (HiCarb)-intake-induced hyperinsulinemia and improve protein balance. METHODS: The effect of a HiCarb/LoProt (glucose 10 mg . kg(-1) . min(-1)/protein 0.7 g . kg(-1) . d(-1)) versus a normal-carbohydrate (NormCarb)/LoProt (glucose 7.5 mg . kg(-1) . min(-1)/protein 0.3 g . kg(-1) . d(-1)) enteral diet on whole-body protein breakdown and balance was compared in a prospective, randomized, single-blinded trial in 24 children after cardiac surgery. On the second postoperative day, plasma insulin and amino acid concentrations, protein breakdown (endogenous rate of appearance of valine), protein synthesis (non-oxidative disposal of valine), protein balance, and the rate of appearance of urea were measured by using an isotopic infusion of [1-(13)C]valine and [(15)N(2)]urea. RESULTS: The HiCarb/LoProt diet led to a serum insulin concentration that was three times higher than the NormCarb/LoProt diet (596 pmol/L, 80-1833, and 198 pmol/L, 76-1292, respectively, P = 0.02), without differences in plasma glucose concentrations. There were no differences in plasma amino acid concentrations, non-oxidative disposal of valine, and endogenous rate of appearance of valine between the groups, with a negative valine balance in the two groups (-0.65 mumol . kg(-1) . min(-1), -1.91 to 0.01, and -0.58 mumol . kg(-1) . min(-1), -2.32 to -0.07, respectively, P = 0.71). The serum cortisol concentration in the HiCarb/LoProt group was lower compared with the NormCarb/LoProt group (204 nmol/L, 50-544, and 532 nmol/L, 108-930, respectively, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In children with fluid restriction after cardiac surgery, a HiCarb/LoProt diet compared with a NormCarb/LoProt diet stimulates insulin secretion but does not inhibit proteolysis further and therefore cannot be advocated for this purpose.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)644-650
Number of pages7
JournalNutrition
Volume28
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2012

Keywords

  • Cardiac surgery
  • Critical illness
  • Child
  • Nutrition
  • Insulin
  • Protein
  • Isotopes
  • CRITICALLY-ILL CHILDREN
  • CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS-SPECTROMETRY
  • LEUCINE METABOLISM
  • SKELETAL-MUSCLE
  • AMINO-ACIDS
  • INSULIN
  • INFANTS
  • SUPPORT
  • PROTEOLYSIS
  • PLASMA

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