Protein requirements are elevated during pregnancy to support the many adaptations and high rates of protein synthesis to support fetal and maternal needs.  Recent work using the indicator amino acid oxidation method has resulted in estimated average requirements higher than those currently recommended during early and late gestation.  Although emphasis is placed on the indispensable amino acids, studies conducted using animals suggest requirements may be elevated for dispensable amino acids during gestation as well.  In order to determine if dispensable amino acid requirements are elevated during gestation in humans, Rasmussen and colleagues conducted a study in healthy women and report their results in the February 2021 issue of The Journal of Nutrition.

Subjects in this study were pregnant women who consumed isocaloric diets containing 0.88 g.kg-1.d-1 of protein and a range of glycine (5-100 mg.kg-1.d-1) during midgestation (17 observations in 9 women) and late gestation (19 observations in 8 women).  Oxidation of labeled phenylalanine was determined at baseline and at isotopic steady state, and plasma was collected to determine 5-oxoproline (an indicator of glycine availability).

Upcoming ASN Webinar: Research Designs to Account for Diversity and Inclusiveness and Impact Food Guidance Policy

March 11, 2022, 12:30 – 2:00 PM EST

This webinar focuses on the consideration of diversity and inclusion when conducting research to inform and implement food and nutrition guidance policy. This webinar is part of the CASP Nutrition Policy Webinar series, designed to help ASN members better understand the interface between research and nutrition policy.

Register Today!

During midgestation, there were no significant responses observed.  During late gestation, lower levels of glycine intake led to elevated oxidation of phenylalanine and higher levels of plasma 5-oxoproline.  The breakpoint in the oxidation of phenylalanine was above 37 mg glycine.kg-1.d-1 and for 5-oxoproline it was above 27 mg glycine.kg-1.d-1.  The authors concluded that glycine becomes conditionally indispensable during late gestation if protein intake is maintained at the current estimated average requirement of 0.88 g.kg-1.d-1

In a commentary on this article, Matthews states this innovative study provides sufficient information to warrant future studies to validate the conclusion that glycine becomes conditionally indispensable in late gestation, and thus determine the correct the EAR and RDA of this amino acid.

References

Rasmussen BF, Ennis MA, Dyer RA, Lim K, Elango R.  Glycine, a dispensable amino acid, is conditionally indispensable in late stages of human pregnancy.  The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 151, Issue 2, February 2021, Pages 361–369, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa263.

Matthews DE. Can we define dietary requirements of dispensable amino acids? The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 151, Issue 2, February 2021, Pages 275–276, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa363.

Images via canva.com.