Nitrogen metabolism in normal and hyperkinetic boys.

Nitrogen excretion, flux, and whole body protein synthesis were measured in a group of 8- to 10-yr-old hyperkinetic boys and a group of matched normal boys. 15N glycine was used as the tracer. Dietary intakes were similar between the two groups. Three differences were found between the two groups: 1) height and weight correlated inversely with hyperactivity; 2) nitrogen excretion was greater (5.4 +/- 0.5 versus 3.1 +/- 0.2 g N/10 h, p less than 0.01) for the hyperkinetic boys; and 3) the distribution pattern of N excretion rates, flux, and protein synthesis were different between the two groups (p less than 0.01). We conclude that nitrogen metabolism in some hyperkinetic boys differs markedly from normal.