Parenteral and enteral routes of feeding in neonatal piglets require different ratios of branched-chain amino acids.

The requirements for total branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), isoleucine, leucine and valine, in neonatal piglets receiving parenteral and enteral nutrition was determined recently. The optimum ratio among BCAA during different routes of feeding is not yet known. In this study, the ratio of BCAA during parenteral and enteral feeding was tested using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique. Male Yorkshire piglets (n=24) received amino acid-based diets containing adequate nutrients for 5 d. Phenylalanine oxidation and kinetics were determined from a 4-h primed, constant infusion of L-[1-14C]-phenylalanine on d 6 and 8. On d 6, all piglets received a BCAA diet which met 75% of the total BCAA requirement, based on our previous research, with a ratio of 1:1.8:1.2 of isoleucine/leucine/valine. On d 8, the piglets were randomly assigned to receive one of the 3 test diets supplemented with isoleucine (+isoleucine), leucine (+leucine) or valine (+valine) to meet 100% of requirement, with the remaining two BCAA at 75% of requirement. The difference in phenylalanine oxidation (% of dose) between d 6 and 8 was used as an indicator of BCAA adequacy. In enterally fed piglets, the change in the percentage of the dose oxidized was minimal for all 3 test diets (mean=1.15%). In parenterally fed piglets, the difference in phenylalanine oxidation (% of dose) between d 6 and 8 was +isoleucine (12.6%), +leucine (2%) and +valine (6.6%). The ratio of 1:1.8:1.2 of isoleucine/leucine/valine is appropriate for enteral feeding, but during parenteral feeding, isoleucine was first limiting and valine was second limiting.