Amino Acid Absorption following Intraperitoneal Administration in CAPD Patients

Abstract

Six non-diabetic CAPD patients were infused over six hours with two litres of a dialysis solution containing 2 g/ dl amino acids (a mixture of essentials and non-essentials). The osmolality of the solution and the amount of ultrafiltration it induced were simiiar to that of a 4.25 g% dextrose Dianeal solution (control), suggesting that an amino acid solution is an efficient osmotic agent. By the end of the six-hour infusion, 80 to 90% of the amino acids present in the dialysis solution had been absorbed. One hour after the infusion was instituted, plasma amino acid levels increased threefold and subsequently decreased to near the initial value by the sixth hour. The amino acid solution was as effective as the dextrose solution in removing urea nitrogen, creatinine and potassium. Our data indicate that intraperitoneal administration of amino acids is effective and well-tolerated in patients on CAPD. We believe further work should be done to determine whether long-term administration of amino acids by this route will improve the nutritional status of these patients and prevent the side effects of daily absorption of large amounts of glucose.