Influence of a low sodium diet on the renal response to amino acid infusions in humans

Abstract

In experimental animals, a high protein diet has been shown to accelerate end-stage renal disease by inducing glomerular hyperperfusion. In this study, we found that intravenous administration of amino acid, used as one component of parenteral nutrition, to normal volunteers resulted in a significant increase in renal blood flow (from 517 ± 29 to 754 ± 60 ml/min) and glomerular filtration rate (from 106 ± 6 to 165 ± 12 ml/min) without altering systemic blood pressure, renal excretion of electrolytes, plasma renin activity, or plasma aldosterone concentration, and excretory rates of prostaglandin E2 were increased (from 665 ± 61 to 1,034 ± 153 pg/min). These amino acid-induced renal hemodynamic effects were abolished when the volunteers received a low sodium diet (20 mEq/day) for three days before the amino acid infusions. However, the hemodynamic effects were restored when the subjects receiving low sodium diets were pretreated with captopril. Under these conditions, amino acid infusions increased renal blood flow (from 388 ± 11 to 597 ± 27 ml/min) and glomerular filtration rate (from 80 ± 4 to 118 ± 9 ml/min). Reduction of prostaglandin synthesis with indomethacin in volunteers receiving a normal sodium intake was also capable of significantly decreasing the amino acid effects on renal hemodynamics. The results indicate that the renal hemodynamic effects of amino acid infusion are strongly influenced by angiotensin II and prostaglandin formation.