Korean Journal of Nephrology 1996;15(3):373-383.

(Comparison of the Plasma Amino Acid Concentions in Patients with End Stage Renal Disease between Korean and American)

Sae- Yong Hong , Dong Hee Kim , Dong - Ho Yang , Hae - Kyung Kwon , Kwon - Soo Ha

Abstract

This study was designed to compare the plasma amino acid concentrations between Korean and American end stage renal disease(ESRD) patients. Comparing the two control groups, the concentrations of seven amino acids (serine, glycine, histidine, arginine, threonine, alanine, and proline) were found to be higher in the American group, while the concentrations of other seven arnino acids(aspartate, glutamate, tyrosine, valine, isoleucine, tryptophan, and lysine) were higher in the Korean group. The sum of the branched chain amino acids concentrations(BCAA) were higher while the total amino acids(total AA) and nonessential amino acids(NEAA) were lower in the Korean control group than in the American control group. No difference in the sum of essential amino acid concentrations(EAA) between the two control groups was noted. In the two ESRD groups, four amino acids(glutamate, serine, proline, and lysine) were higher in the American group while other four amino acids(aspartate, histidine, alanine, and tryptophan) were higher in the Korean group. There was no difference in the concentration of nine amino acids(glycine, arginine, threonine, tyrosine, valine methionine, isoleucine, leucine, and phenylalanine) between the Korean and American ESRD groups. There were no differences in the BCAA, EAA, NEAA, and total AA between the Korean and Arnerican ESRD groups. The valine/glycine ratio was lower in the Korean ESRD group than in the control group but not in the American ESRD group. Tyrosine/phenylalanine ratio was lower in both the Korean and American ESRD groups than in their control groups. In the Korean group, the BCAA(447±210 vs. 315±146pmo1/L, p<0.05) and EAA(1046± 421 vs. 897±369mmol/L, p<0.05) were lower in the ESRD group than in the control group. But there was no differe@nce in NEAA and total AA between the two groups. In the American group, the EAA(980±260 vs. 836±204 mmol/L, p<0.05), NEAA(1654± 481 vs. 1099±430mmol/L, p<0.05), and total AA(2632±705 vs. 1936±649mmol/L, p<0.05) were lower in the ESRD group than in the control group. But there was no difference in BCAA between the two groups, Further studies are necessary to define the cause of these discrepancies in amino acid metabolism seen between the Korean and American control and ESRD groups and whether these discrepancies might influence the differences in clinical outcome between the two ESRD goups.