An Analysis of Free Plasma Amino Acid Profile and mTOR Protein Level in Children with Malnutrition

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is a clinical case that stems from inadequate intake of one or more nutritional elements and results in an imbalance within the body. In its etiopathogenesis, feeding problems, protein and energy deficiency and particularly insufficiency of mTOR protein and blood amino acids are listed. In this study, we aimed to examine free plasma amino-acid profile and mTOR protein level in children with growth and developmental delay.
Materials and Methods: In our study, mTOR and blood amino acid levels were compared among 48 malnourished children aged 0-18 years who were admitted to our hospital's pediatric outpatient clinic and whose height and weight were below the three percentile and 47 healthy controls.
Results: The study were included 48 patients and 47 healthy children. Although mTOR and aminoacid levels were expected to be low in malnourished children, there was no significant difference between the control and patient groups.
Conclusion: Even though mTOR level and amino-acid profile, which are checked in children with growth and developmental delay, are not considered to be particular indicators, it is concluded that they can illuminate the pathway for further studies in this field.
Key words: Malnutrition, Nutrition, Amino acid, mTOR

Malnütrisyonlu Çocukların Serbest Plazma Aminoasit Profili ve mTOR Protein Düzeyinin Araştırılması

Öz

Amaç: Malnütrisyon bir ya da daha fazla besin öğesinin vücut dengesini bozacak şekilde yetersiz alınması sonucunda ortaya çıkan klinik bir tablodur. Etiyopatogenezin de beslenme problemleri, protein ve enerji eksikliği ve özellikle mTOR proteini ve kan aminoasitleri ile ilgili eksiklikler mevcuttur. Bu çalışmada büyüme ve gelişme geriliği olan çocukların serbest plazma aminoasit profili ve mTOR protein düzeyinin araştırılmasını amaçladık. Materyal ve metod: Çalışmamızda hastanemiz pediatri polikliniğine başvuran 0-18 yaş arasında boy ve kilosu üç persantilin altında olan malnütrisyonlu çocuklarda mTOR düzeyi ve mTOR düzeyinin kan aminoasit düzeyleriyle ilişkisi incelenmiştir. Bulgular: Çalışmaya 48 hasta ve kontrol grubu için tamamen sağlıklı 47 çocuk alındı. Beslenmenin yetersizliğine bağlı olarak malnütrisyon olan çocuklarda mTOR ve aminoasit seviyelerinde düşüklük beklenmesine rağmen referans aralıklarına göre değerlendirildiğinde kontrol grubu ile hasta grubu arasında anlamlı fark bulunamadı. Sonuç: Büyüme ve gelişme geriliği olan çocuklarda bakılan mTOR ve aminoasit profili özel bir belirteç olarak kullanılamasa da bu alanda yapılacak birçok çalışmaya ışık tutabileceği kanısına varıldı.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Malnütrisyon
• beslenme
• aminoasit
• mTOR

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