STUDIES ON AMINO ACID EXCRETION IN MAN. IV. PEPTIC ULCER 1

Abstract

N balances and microbiological measurements of 8 amino acids in the food, plasma, urine and feces were obtained in 3 normal men and in 4 patients with active peptic ulcer, given a constant diet containing minimally adequate amts. of high-quality protein. There were no demonstrably significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to N balance, output of urea N, excretion of amino acids in the urine and feces, and the free amino acids in plasma. The concns. of each of the 8 amino acids measured in acid-hydrolyzed tungstic acid filtrates of plasma were increased in the ulcer group. A fast-moving component was observed during electrophoresis of the plasma proteins of 3 patients, in 2 of whom the ulcer had healed. At the end of electrophoresis the pattern in all cases appeared within the normal range or presented very minor deviations.