Amino acid balances of healthy postabsorptive volunteers were investigated with the forearm technique under the influence of an intravenous infusion of triglyceride emulsions (LCT; MCT/LCT) [corrected]. A decrease of the basal muscular release of most of the amino acids, respectively an increase of pre-existent uptake rates [corrected]. In parallel, arterial concentrations of these amino acids declined. With constant insulin levels and substantially unchanged blood glucose levels, this inhibition of muscular proteolysis and/or stimulation of proteosynthesis is most probably due to the increased level of free fatty acids.