Table 2.

Venous plasma concentration (μmol/L) of amino acids measured in the entire patient population both at admission to and discharge from our rehab institute. For comparison, plasma amino acid levels in healthy subjects were reported.

	Healthy subjects (n = 10)	Patients (n = 60)
		Admission	Discharge (p)
Aspartate	19 ± 9	21.9 ± 11.6	16 ± 9
Glutamate	95 ± 63	154 ± 93	128.6 ± 32
Asparagine	23 ± 9	19.7 ± 9.2∗	19.1 ± 11.2■
Serine	111 ± 31	65.8 ± 33○	50.8 ± 15.2○
Glutamine	483 ± 100	99.4 ± 32○	120.5 ± 28#○
Histidine	62 ± 12	68.6 ± 35.6	66.5 ± 24
Glycine	227 ± 80	143 ± 107∗	122 ± 23.5○
Threonine	118 ± 32	198 ± 104	173.7 ± 62.9
Citrulline	8.5 ± 2.1	19.6 ± 9.4	22.3 ± 9.7#
3-Methylhistidine	3.24 ± 0.87	4.86 ± 2.5	6.4 ± 4.1
Alanine	385 ± 92	307 ± 82	298 ± 89■
Arginine	62 ± 20	138 ± 60■	160 ± 81.40■
Tyrosine	65 ± 14	47 ± 16■	48.7 ± 16.7∗
Cysteine	—	48 ± 28.5	50 ± 16.8
Valine	249 ± 58	202 ± 74	203 ± 69
Methionine	21.5 ± 5.2	24.8 ± 15.7	18.1 ± 10
Tryptophan	70 ± 33	70.3 ± 33	59 ± 28
Phenylalanine	70 ± 30	51.20 ± 20	50.5 ± 20∗
Isoleucine	68 ± 16	63.6 ± 26	61 ± 21
Leucine	128 ± 28	105 ± 49	102 ± 35.8
Lysine	180 ± 36	107 ± 57∗	96 ± 21○
Total AAs	2493.5 ± 652.4	1960 ± 890.5∗	1872 ± 628.3■
Total EAAs	904.5 ± 238	822 ± 379	821.5 ± 268

Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation.

Statistical analysis:

(a) unpaired t-test between patients and healthy subjects at both admission to and discharge from rehab institute; ^○ p < 0.001; ^■ p < 0.02; ^∗ p < 0.05;

(b) paired t-test between patient discharge and admission: ^# p < 0.05.