| Branched-chain amino acids and muscle ammonia detoxification in cirrhosis. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 23315357 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are used as a therapeutic nutritional supplement in patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). During liver disease, the decreased capacity for urea synthesis and porto-systemic shunting reduce the hepatic clearance of ammonia and skeletal muscle may become the main alternative organ for ammonia detoxification. We here summarize current knowledge of muscle BCAA and ammonia metabolism with a focus on liver cirrhosis and HE. Plasma levels of BCAA are lower and muscle uptake of BCAA seems to be higher in patients with cirrhosis and hyperammonemia. BCAA metabolism may improve muscle net ammonia removal by supplying carbon skeletons for formation of alfa-ketoglutarate that combines with two ammonia molecules to become glutamine. An oral dose of BCAA enhances muscle ammonia metabolism but also transiently increases the arterial ammonia concentration, likely due to extramuscular metabolism of glutamine. We, therefore, speculate that the beneficial effect of long term intake of BCAA on HE demonstrated in clinical studies may be related to an improved muscle mass and nutritional status rather than to an ammonia lowering effect of BCAA themselves. |
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Authors:
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Gitte Dam; Peter Ott; Niels Kristian Aagaard; Hendrik Vilstrup |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2013-1-15 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Metabolic brain disease Volume: - ISSN: 1573-7365 ISO Abbreviation: Metab Brain Dis Publication Date: 2013 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2013-1-14 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8610370 Medline TA: Metab Brain Dis Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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Department of Medicine V (Hepatology and Gastroenterology), Aarhus University Hospital, Noerrebrogade, 8000, C Aarhus, Denmark, gitdam@rm.dk. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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