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Abstract

The complexity of amino acid and protein metabolism has restricted the development of comprehensive, accurate whole body kinetic models. For leucine, the so-called primary and reciprocal pool models, have been used extensively to measure in vivo leucine fluxes. The influence of several variables (age, gender, weight, BMI, plasma leucine concentration and the method used to estimate protein turnover) on whole body protein turnover (WBPT) estimates in normal adult males (N= 29) was investigated. The analysis showed that compared to the reciprocal pool model, the primary pool model will underestimate leucine Ra by ~30%. Furthermore, over the range of values in this study, the influence of age, gender, weight, BMI, plasma leucine concentration on WBPT is small. Our data show, that of the variables considered here, the single most important factor in determining WBPT is the method/model used.

[Chemical formulae of abstract can be found in the full thesis]

In conclusion, the model proposed here is conceptually no more complex than the reciprocal pool model, and in practice it may be simpler to use than other, more comprehensive, compartmental models. The model allows the estimation of several leucine fluxes and masses in man, provides estimates in line with theoretical and empirical expectations and is on firm theoretical ground.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Healthcare Services Research & Management > Food Policy School of Health & Psychological Sciences > School of Health & Psychological Sciences Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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