Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
12-mo double-blind crossover trial
Participants
14 well-nourished and 7 mildly-moderately malnourished infection-free preadolescent CF children
Interventions
taurine supplementation
Outcome measures
Muscle protein breakdown (urinary 3-methylhistidine technique), whole-body protein flux, synthesis, and catabolism. Net protein gain
Main results
Muscle protein breakdown (urinary 3-methylhistidine technique) was significantly decreased in well-nourished (1.35% degraded/24 h +/- 0.15, p less than 0.05) and malnourished (1.24 +/- 0.11, p less than 0.001) CF children compared with controls (1.50 +/- 0.17, n = 13). Whole-body protein flux, synthesis, and catabolism ([15N]-glycine technique) were similar in all groups. Net protein gain was greater in CF children, particularly those who were well-nourished (0.55 g/(kg X 10 h) +/- 0.35, p less than 0.01) compared with controls (0.16 +/- 0.26). Taurine supplementation did not significantly affect any of the indices.
Authors' conclusions
In the absence of infection, protein metabolism in CF children responds appropriately to malnutrition.