Orotic acid excretion during starvation and refeeding in normal men Journal Article


Authors: Jeevanandam, M.; Shoemaker, J. D.; Horowitz, G. D.; Lowry, S. F.; Brennan, M. F.
Article Title: Orotic acid excretion during starvation and refeeding in normal men
Abstract: The effects of acute food deprivation and subsequent refeeding on urinary orotic acid excretion were examined in nine healthy adult male subjects. During inpatient metabolic ward conditions, the volunteers were fed a nutritionally complete, pyrimidine- and purine-free diet for three days and subsequently underwent a ten-day fast followed by a ten-day period of refeeding by total parenteral nutrition. Mean daily excretion of 4.33 ± 0.23 mg (2.77 ± 0.12 mg/g creatinine) of orotic acid during the enterally fed state was significantly reduced (mean 46 ± 5%) in all subjects during starvation. This reduction in the excretion of orotic acid during starvation is more likely related to a lowered rate of production and utilization. The starvation adaptation of orotate excretion occurred more rapidly than did the decrease in urinary nitrogen loss. All subjects showed an increase (mean 48 ± 14%) in the excretion of orotic acid during the first day of refeeding which continued throughout the refeeding phase. A significant positive correlation was shown between the daily orotic acid excretion and nitrogen intake (r = 0.98) or protein balance (r = 0.83). The response to refeeding of acutely malnourished normal male is an increase in orotic acid excretion with a decrease in whole body protein catabolism. © 1985.
Keywords: adult; clinical article; methodology; energy intake; protein metabolism; creatinine; food; diagnosis; urine; uric acid; nitrogen; normal human; starvation; etiology; food, formulated; parenteral nutrition, total; humans; human; male; priority journal; dietary proteins; orotic acid; refeeding
Journal Title: Metabolism
Volume: 34
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0026-0495
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 1985-04-01
Start Page: 325
End Page: 329
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/0026-0495(85)90221-5
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 3920473
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 26 October 2021 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Murray F Brennan
    1059 Brennan
  2. Stephen F Lowry
    20 Lowry