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Detection of early protein-calorie malnutrition (pre-kwashiorkor) in population groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

H. A. Prasanna
Affiliation:
Discipline of Applied Nutrition and Dietetics, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India
B. L. M. Desai
Affiliation:
Discipline of Applied Nutrition and Dietetics, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India
M. Narayana Rao
Affiliation:
Discipline of Applied Nutrition and Dietetics, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India
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Abstract

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1. The heights and weights and the serum total protein concentration and ratio nonessential to essential amino acids (NEA:EA ratio) were determined in twenty-six Indian children, aged from 1·5 to 5 years, suffering from early protein-calorie malnutrition (pre-kwashiorkor children).

2. The heights and weights of the majority of the children approximated to 75–85% of the values for normal Indian children. The serum NEA:EA ratio of the children varied from 2·5 to 4·0. There was no correlation between this ratio and weight deficit. In healthy children of the same socio-economic group, the serum NEA:EA ratio varied from 1·5 to 2·1 with a mean of 1·7. The results show that the NEA:EA ratio may be useful as an index for the detection of pre-kwashiorkor conditions.

3. There was a significant (P < 0·05) negative correlation (r = −0·45) between serum albumin and NEA:EA ratio of the children. All the children showed consistently a significant increase in serum γ-globulin.

Type
Clinical and Human Nutrition
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1971

References

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