Long-term oxandrolone treatment increases muscle protein net deposition via improving amino acid utilization in pediatric patients 6 months after burn injury

Demidmaa Tuvdendorj, David L. Chinkes, Xiao Jun Zhang, Oscar E. Suman, Asle Aarsland, Arny Ferrando, Gabriela A. Kulp, Marc G. Jeschke, Robert R. Wolfe, David N. Herndon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: We recently showed that mechanisms of protein turnover in skeletal muscle are unresponsive to amino acid (AA) infusion in severely burned pediatric patients at 6 months postinjury. In the current study, we evaluated whether oxandrolone treatment affects mechanisms of protein turnover in skeletal muscle and whole-body protein breakdown in pediatric burn patients 6 months postinjury. Methods: At the time of admission, patients were randomized to control or oxandrolone treatments. The treatment regimens were continued until 6 months postinjury, at which time patients (n = 26) underwent study with a stable isotope tracer infusion to measure muscle and whole-body protein turnover. Results: Protein kinetics in leg muscle were expressed in nmol/min per 100 mL leg volume (mean ± SE). During AA infusion, rates of protein synthesis in leg muscle were increased (P < .05) in both groups (basal vs AA: control, 51 ± 8 vs 86 ± 21; oxandrolone, 56 ± 7 vs 96 ± 12). In the control group, there was also a simultaneous increase in breakdown (basal vs AA: 65 ± 10 vs 89 ± 25), which resulted in no change in the net balance of leg muscle protein (basal vs AA: -15 ± 4 vs -2 ± 10). In the oxandrolone group, protein breakdown did not change (basal vs AA: 80 ± 12 vs 77 ± 9), leading to increased net balance (basal vs AA: -24 ± 7 vs 19 ± 7; P < .05). Protein breakdown at the whole-body level was not different between the groups. Conclusion: Long-term oxandrolone treatment increased net deposition of leg muscle protein during AA infusion by attenuating protein breakdown, but did not affect whole-body protein breakdown.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)645-653
Number of pages9
JournalSurgery
Volume149
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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