BRANCHED-CHAIN AMINO-ACIDS IMPROVE BODY-COMPOSITION AND NITROGEN-BALANCE IN A RAT MODEL OF EXTRA HEPATIC BILIARY ATRESIA

Malnutrition and growth retardation remain a major complication in inf ants with extrahepatic biliary atresia associated cholestasis. The pur pose of this study was to investigate whether oral supplementation wit h branched chain amino acids (BCAA) can correct malnutrition in a rat model of biliary atresia. Four groups of 15 rats, 30 d old, were used. Group A were sham-operated animals, given a normal laboratory diet (1 7.5% of caloric intake as proteins). Group B were cholestatic rats (bi liary atresia) fed a diet enriched in BCAA (supplement of 8.5%, valine /leucine/isoleucine ratio 1:1:1). Group C were cholestatic mice fed a diet enriched in casein (supplement of 8.5%). Group D were cholestatic mice fed a normal diet. Thirty-two days after surgery, groups were co mpared for body weight, serum amino acid content, nitrogen balance, mu scle mass, and carcass composition. The results showed that the weight of group B, C, and D animals was 85, 81, and 64% of group A (controls ). Serum BCAA levels were markedly increased in group B animals. Nitro gen retention was similar in groups B and A, but reduced to 63 and 44% in groups C and D, respectively. Dry weights were similar in group A (39.1% of body weight) and B (37.7%), but reduced to 28.1 and 28.6% of body weight in groups C and D. Body proteins were higher in groups A (13.9%) and B (14.2%) than in group D (9.7%) rats. Mineral content of group B animals was 84% of those of group A, 50% in group C, and 23% i n group D rats. It was concluded that an oral supplement of BCAA can c orrect growth, nitrogen retention, and body composition in experimenta l biliary atresia. Administration of BCAA supplements to cholestatic i nfants should be considered.