Effects of amino acids and albumin administration on albumin metabolism in surgically stressed rats: A basic nutritional study.

Background: Nutrition therapy and administration of albumin preparations are common in postsurgical patients. However, the effects of these interventions on albumin metabolism are unclear. We elucidated the effect of postoperative albumin and/or parenteral nutrition administration on it.
Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats underwent surgery involving intestinal rubbing followed by intestinal exposure. Subsequently, they were administered experimental solutions for 48 h, their blood samples were collected at 24 and 48 h, and livers were excised at 48 h. Based on experimental solutions, rats were divided into five groups: non-surgical (Non-surg); glucose and electrolyte solution (GE); amino acid, glucose, and electrolyte solution (AGE); GE + rat serum albumin (Alb) (GE + Alb); and AGE + Alb. Their plasma albumin concentrations; albumin fractional synthesis rate (ALB FSR); mercaptoalbumin/total albumin ratio (MA ratio); and messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of albumin and hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1) in the liver were measured.
Results: The GE and AGE groups showed significant decline in albumin concentrations. ALB FSR was significantly enhanced in the AGE group compared with the GE group. The mRNA expression of albumin was similar to ALB FSR in all groups and that of HNF-1 was significantly decreased in the GE + Alb and AGE + Alb groups compared with the Non-surg group. The MA ratio in the AGE group was similar to the Non-surg group.
Conclusion: The administration of amino acids comprising parenteral nutrition after surgery augmented ALB FSR and maintained the MA ratio only without simultaneous albumin administration.
(© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)