Ketosteril Mechanism of Action

Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Ketosteril allows the intake of essential amino acids while minimising the amino-nitrogen intake.
Following absorption, the keto- and hydroxy-analogues are transaminated to the corresponding essential amino acids by taking nitrogen from non-essential amino acids, therby decreasing the formation of urea by re-using the amino group. Hence, the accumulation of uraemic toxins is reduced. Keto and hydroxy acids do not induce hyperfiltration of the residual nephrons. Ketoacid containing supplements exert positive effect on renal hyper phosphataemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Moreover, renal osteodystrophy may be improved. The use of Ketosteril in combination with a very low protein diet allows to reduce nitrogen intake while preventing the deleterious consequences of inadequate dietary protein intake and malnutrition.
Pharmacokinetics: The plasma kinetics of amino acids and their integration in the metabolic pathways are well established. It should nevertheless be noted that in uraemic patients, the cause of the changed plasma levels, which occur frequently in these patients, does not seem to be the absorption of the supplied amino acids, i.e. the absorption itself is not disturbed. The changed plasma levels seem to be due to impaired post-absorptive kinetics, which can be detected in a very early stage of a disease.
In healthy individuals, the plasma levels of ketoacids increase within 10 min after oral administration. Increases of up to the 5-fold the baseline levels are achieved. Peak levels occur within 20-60 min, and after 90 min levels stabilise in the range of the base levels. Gastrointestinal absorption is thus very rapid. The simultaneous increases in the levels of the ketoacids and the corresponding amino acids show that the ketoacids are transaminated very rapidly. Due to the physiological utilisation pathways of ketoacids in the body it is likely that exogenously supplied ketoacids are very rapidly integrated into the metabolic cycles. Ketoacids follow the same catabolic pathways as classical amino acids. No specific study on ketoacid excretion has been performed to date.