Taurine requirement of premature infants in parenteral nutrition]

The aim of our studies was to clarify, which dose of taurine should be added to amino acid solutions, in order to achieve plasma levels in premature infants as they are found during nutrition with mother's milk. In 22 premature infants born in the 30th-35th week of gestation plasma taurine levels during parenteral nutrition were measured on the 5th-9th day of life before and after infusing an amino acid solution supplemented with taurine. For analysis the principle of chromatographical ion exchange was applied. The requirement of taurine was calculated by means of a linear regression between supply and blood level. The mean plasma taurine levels before substitution were 88.7 mumol (95%-range of tolerance: 32.8-240 mumol/l). In premature infants with cerebral haemorrhages significantly higher plasma taurine levels were observed. Continuous parenteral taurine supply of approximately 0.05 g/kg/day was able to raise the taurine level by about 70 mumol/l, which caused a plasma taurine level of above 100 mumol/l in any case. During parenteral nutrition it is possible to achieve taurine levels as high as in breastfed neonates by substituting taurine at an amount of 0.05 g taurine per kg body weight.