Amino Acid Plasma Profile in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Background: Insulin deficiency inhibits protein synthesis and stimulates protein degradation, and therefore amino acid metabolism could be altered in diabetes mellitus. Objective: To analyze amino acid plasma profile in a group of children with type 1 diabetes, and to evaluate its potential application as a marker of metabolic control for the disease. Methods: A clinical assessment and metabolic study (amino acid plasma concentrations) was performed in a group of 49 children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, aged 8.6 to 14.3 years, and a group of 48 healthy children (control group), aged 7.4 to 14.8 years. Results: Plasma concentrations of ARG, GLN, ILE, PHE, THR, TYR, VAL and TAU were significantly higher (p<0.05) within the diabetic group with respect to the control group. Likewise, plasma concentrations of branched-chain (347.65±58.76 vs. 285.20±45.20 nmol/ml), glucogenic (1252.74±236.82 vs. 1053.69±211.19 nmol/ml) and ketogenic amino acids (441.62±57.09 vs. 354.13±53.45 nmol/ml) were significantly higher (p< 0.05) in the diabetic group with respect to the control group. There was no correlation between the single amino acid (or amino acid groups) plasma levels and the evolution of the disease (years) or HbA1c levels. Conclusion: The study of changes in amino acid plasma profile in the young diabetic, probably as a consequence of insulinopenia, could have interest as a marker of metabolic control for the disease