Renal metabolism of amino acids (AAs) was evaluated in 5 patients with early IDDM, and in 7 controls (C) in the basal state for 80 minutes after the ingestion of an AA mixture simulating an animal protein meal. Insulin was withdrawn 20 hours before the study. Renal metabolism of AAs was evaluated by the arterial-venous difference technique. In the basal state in IDDM, as in C, the kidney takes up large amounts of a few nonessential AAs (NEAAs): it releases many NEAAs and a few essential AAs (EAAs). After AA ingestion in C, renal extraction of most EAAs, mainly BCAAs, Lys, and Thr, occurs; Pro extraction also increases and a significant uptake of Gly, Glu, Asp, Orn, and Tyr takes place. EAA extraction accounts for 30-40% of total AA uptake. In IDDM, after AA ingestion, a) renal uptake of total AAs is significantly lower, owing mainly to a markedly lower uptake of BCAAs, Lys, and also of Pro, Orn, and Ala; b) renal EAA uptake accounts for less than 20% of total AA extraction. These results indicate that in IDDM postprandial renal N repletion is impaired and unbalanced.