Determination of Lysine Requirements in Pregnancy
Determination of Lysine Requirements in Pregnancy
Amino acids are building blocks of protein in our body. It is important that pregnant women
 eat adequate amount of protein/amino acids to ensure healthy growth and development of the
 fetus.Lysine is an amino acid that is present in high amounts only in animal foods (meat) and
 not much in plant foods such as wheat. Currently , it is not known how much lysine is needed
 to eat during pregnancy.

 Current Dietary Reference Intake recommendations for amino acid requirements are based on
 non-pregnant adults, and minimally based on pregnancy-specific data.To the investigators
 knowledge, there is no scientific information regarding the amount of lysine needed at
 different stages of pregnancy.

 The investigators hypothesize that current recommendations for lysine intake in pregnant
 women are underestimated. The investigators also hypothesize that the lysine requirements
 will be greater during the later stages of pregnancy, compared to early stages.

 The purpose of this study is to determine lysine requirements in healthy pregnant women
 19-40y,(1st and 3rd trimester) using a modern, safe and quick technique called the indicator
 amino acid oxidation technique and to compare lysine requirements during early (15-18 weeks
 last menstrual period) late (33-36 weeks last menstrual period) stages of pregnancy.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Singleton pregnancy

 -  Maternal age 19-40y

 -  Early stage of pregnancy(15-18 weeks) and late stage of pregnancy(33-36 weeks)

 -  In good health (free of chronic/acute illness, full range of physical mobility)

 -  Healthy pre-pregnancy body mass index

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Subjects outside the age range of 19-40y

 -  Women pregnant with more than one child

 -  Body mass Index less than 18.5kg/m2 or greater than 25 kg/m2

 -  less than 18 months between current pregnancy and last pregnancy

 -  History of spontaneous abortion,pre-term birth, preeclampsia/eclampsia, gestational
 diabetes, pregnancy-related anemia, pregnancy related jaundice

 -  Existing metabolic disease

 -  Substance dependance (i.e. alcohol, cigarette, illicit drugs)

 -  Allergic to eggs and egg protein

 -  Severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy