Abstract
Objectives: To assess the effect of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy on whole body protein turnover. Design and subjects: Whole body protein turnover was determined using oral [15N]glycine in normal women from enrichment measured in urine at days 7 and 14 of the menstrual cycle and in pregnant women at 17–20 weeks and 30–32 weeks gestation. Results: Nitrogen flux was 38.2 (5.8) mg N/kg/h using a single dose and 31.1±4.1 mg N/kg/h with prime-intermittent doses—the same as in men using the same methods. Nitrogen flux around the time of ovulation, 32.3 (8.2) mg N/kg/h, was greater than at day 7, 26.8 (3.0) mg N/kg/h (PPP=0.012), but not when expressed in relation to body weight Conclusions: Protein turnover can be measured reproducibly in women using a non-invasive method, provided care is taken to standardize the conditions, and especially the duration over which urine is collected. There is an increase around the time of ovulation when hormonal levels are at their highest and during pregnancy the results obtained are similar to those reported using [13C]leucine. Sponsorship: University of Southampton and Medical Research Council. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 329–336

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: