The Role of Tryptophan-Nicotinamide (TRP-NAM) Pathway in Malnutrition Induced Liver Dysfunction

Objectives Malnutrition contributes to 45% of the deaths of children < 5. Mortality in severe malnutrition is often related to metabolic disturbances, including hypoglycemia, indicating hepatic metabolic dysfunction. Children with severe malnutrition have been found to have significantly lower circulating tryptophan (TRP) levels in their blood. Disturbances in TRP-NAM pathway have been implicated in liver and intestine diseases, potentially mediated by NAD-dependent deacetylase SIRT1. This study aim to evaluate the effect of modulating TRP-NAM pathway on hepatic metabolism dysfunction in a mouse model of severe malnutrition. Methods Weanling male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into different groups fed with a control diet (18% protein), or a malnourished diet (1% protein) with or without supplementation of modulators of the TRP-NAM pathway (NAM, NR and TRP …