PLASMA AND URINARY AMINO-ACIDS IN DIABETES

Abstract

The plasma concentration of α-amino N was determined in fifty-three diabetic patients. These diabetic patients included cases with and without ketosis, cases before and after insulin treatment, and cases whose diabetes started before and after the age of 40 years. None of the patients with ketosis was in coma or pre-coma. No significant difference from the normal plasma α-amino N concentration was observed in any of these six groups. Qualitative chromatographic analysis and quantitative determinations of the amino-acid excretion of thirty-three and fourteen diabetic patients respectively, showed a significantly increased excretion of amino N during diabetic ketosis. This increase may be associated with an excess production of free amino-acids due to an increased secretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone during diabetic ketosis.