STUDIES ON AMINO ACID EXCRETION IN MAN. V. CHRONIC ULCERATIVE COLITIS AND REGIONAL ENTERITIS 1

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Abstract
N balances and microbiological measurements of 8 individuals amino acids in the food, plasma, urine and feces were obtained in 3 normal men, 3 patients with chronic ulcerative colitis and one with regional enteritis, during the admn. of a constant diet containing amts. of protein adequate for basal maintenance in normal subjects. The N balances were slightly positive in the normal subjects, in approx. equilibrium in 2 patients with ulcerative colitis, and were slightly negative in 1 patient with severe ulcerative colitis and in 1 with regional enteritis. The free amino acids in plasma and the excretion of amino acids in the urine were within the normal range. The total non-protein amino acids in plasma were higher than normal in 2 of the 3 patients with ulcerative colitis and in the single patient with regional enteritis. The quantities of each of the 8 amino acids in the feces were increased significantly in 3 of the 4 patients. However, the patterns of amino acid excretion were normal. Two patients with ulcerative colitis, given additional high-quality protein, excreted approx. 73% of the supplemental N as urinary urea and ammonia, apparently retained 24%, and eliminated only 3% in the feces.