nitrogénegyensúly

Nitrogenegyensúly refers to the balance between the intake and excretion of nitrogen in an organism. Nitrogen is an essential element for life, forming the building blocks of proteins and nucleic acids. In most animals, nitrogen enters the body through the consumption of protein-rich foods. During the metabolism of proteins, amino acids are broken down, and the nitrogen-containing amino group is removed, forming ammonia. Ammonia is toxic and is converted in the liver into urea, which is then excreted by the kidneys in urine.

A state of nitrogen balance exists when the amount of nitrogen taken into the body equals the amount of nitrogen excreted. This is typically observed in healthy adults who are not growing, pregnant, or experiencing significant tissue breakdown. Positive nitrogen balance occurs when nitrogen intake exceeds excretion. This is characteristic of periods of growth, such as in children, during pregnancy, or when building muscle mass through exercise and adequate protein intake. In these situations, the extra nitrogen is used for synthesizing new tissues.

Negative nitrogen balance occurs when nitrogen excretion exceeds nitrogen intake. This indicates that the body is breaking down its own tissues for energy or other metabolic processes. Such a state can result from starvation, prolonged illness, severe injury, or inadequate dietary protein intake. In these conditions, the body is catabolizing its own protein stores, leading to a loss of body mass and function. Monitoring nitrogen balance can be an indicator of an organism's nutritional status and overall health.