Nitrogen balance negative

The answer is c. (Hardman, pp 1129-1131J All tetracyclines can produce negative nitrogen balance and increased blood urea nitrogen... 

Amino acids are not only important for protein synthesis but also serve as precursors for hormones, coenzymes, alkaloids, cell wall polymers, porphyrins, antibiotics, nucleotides, pigments, and neurotransmit-ters. ° A deficiency of one amino acid may result in a negative nitrogen balance (Figure 9). ... 

Negative nitrogen balance occurs when nitrogen loss exceeds incorporation and is assodated with ... 

Recovery from condition associated with negative nitrogen balance... 

Amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the body are termed essential amino acids, and a diet deficient in even one essential amino acid can lead to negative nitrogen balance. 

Severe negative nitrogen balance may occasionally have to be corrected by hyperalimentation or total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Intravenous solutions used in TPN contain essential and nonessential amino acids, plus a source of calories in the form of fat and carbohydrate. They "spare" the administered amino acids and allow them to be used for tissue repair. The TPN fluid must also contain all other nutritional factors required for life, including essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Severe metal and essential fatty acid deficiencies have been observed in situations in which such inclusions had not been made. 

A person on this diet would be in negative nitrogen balance and could not sustain normal metabolism. 

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