Nitrogen and Sulfur Metabolism of Diabetic Children.

Abstract

The excretion of nitrogen and sulfur in the urine of 36 diabetic children of from 2 to 15 years of age has been studied in an attempt to gain more information concerning the protein metabolism of controlled diabetic children on diets high in protein. With a very few exceptions, these children were receiving approximately 2 gm. of protein per kilo body weight, the ratio of the gm. of nitrogen per gm. of sulfur in the different diets varying from 10.3 to 13.4. Data were collected during a total of 47 periods of 3 to 4 days each.

The N:S ratios of the urines approximate those of the diet rather closely (ranging from 10.9 to 16.6), with a definite tendency to be slightly higher. Children who were much underweight and were gaining rapidly showed the largest increases, while 4 rather fat, phlegmatic children showed urinary N:S ratios almost identical with those of the diets. Three adolescent girls, whose urinary N:S ratios were but slightly above the diet ratio, were kept on a lower protein diet (1 gm. per kilo) for about 3 months. At the end of this time the N balances were barely positive, but the N:S ratios of the urines were definitely increased.

These data have been interpreted as indicating a slight but definite tendency on the part of the growing child to retain a sulfur-rich protein for anabolic needs.