Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
RCT
Participants
8 pediatric CF patients with stable CF who required tube feeding.
Interventions
isotopic infusion of [1-(13)C]valine and [(15)N(2)]urea. 3 randomly allocated isocaloric diets with normal (NP), intermediate (IP), and high (HP) amounts of protein (1.5, 3, and 5 g . kg(-1) . d(-1), respectively) by continuous drip feeding during a 4-d period at 6-wk intervals. Each patient acted as his or her own control.
Outcome measures
On the fourth day of feeding, whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown were measured.
Main results
Protein synthesis was significantly higher in the HP group (x +/- SEM. 1.78 +/- 0.07 micromol . kg(-1) . min(-1)) than in the IP (1.57 +/- 0.08 micromol . kg(-1) . min(-1); P=0.001) and NP (1.37 +/- 0.07 micromol . kg(-1) . min(-1); P < 0.001) groups. There were no significant differences in protein breakdown. Net retention of nitrogen was significantly higher in the HP group (12.93 +/- 1.42 micromol . kg(-1) . min(-1)) than in the IP (7.61 +/- 1.40 micromol . kg(-1) . min(-1); P=0.01) and HP (2.48 +/- 0.20 micromol . kg(-1) . min(-1); P < 0.001) groups.
Authors' conclusions
In stunted children with CF requiring tube feeding, the highest stimulation of whole-body protein synthesis was achieved with a short-term dietary protein intake of 5 g . kg(-1) . d(-1).
Keywords: Child; non pharmacological intervention - diet; Proteins; Supplementation; Continuous;