Abstract
Golden and Ramdath proposed the free radical theory of kwashiorkor, suggesting that the changes seen in kwashiorkor may be the result of an imbalance between the production and safe disposal of free radicals. In malnourished children, mineral metabolism and antioxidant status need renewed attention especially in relation to cause and functional significance of the changes in concentration of these substances. In the present study, the modified Wellcome classification was used to classify the protein energy malnourished children into kwashiorkor marasmic-kwashiorkor, marasmus and underweight. Twenty-six healthy and normal children were used as controls. Standard procedures were used for the analyses of the biochemical parameters. Our results showed that plasma total cholesterol, sodium, potassium and bicarbonate, beta-carotene, retinol and uric acid were significantly lower in the malnourished group than the control group (P < 0.05), while transaminases were significantly increased in the malnourished group (P < 0.05). These findings suggest an altered electrolyte and antioxidant status in protein energy malnutrition.
MeSH terms
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Alanine Transaminase / blood*
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Analysis of Variance
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Antioxidants / metabolism*
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Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood*
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Bicarbonates / blood
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Case-Control Studies
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Child Nutrition Disorders / classification
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Child Nutrition Disorders / complications
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Child Nutrition Disorders / diagnosis
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Child Nutrition Disorders / metabolism*
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Child, Preschool
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Cholesterol / blood*
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Electrolytes / blood*
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Hematocrit
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Humans
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Infant
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Kwashiorkor / classification
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Kwashiorkor / complications
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Kwashiorkor / diagnosis
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Kwashiorkor / metabolism*
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Nigeria / epidemiology
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Nutrition Assessment
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Nutritional Status
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Potassium / blood
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Prevalence
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Protein-Energy Malnutrition / classification
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Protein-Energy Malnutrition / complications
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Protein-Energy Malnutrition / diagnosis
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Protein-Energy Malnutrition / metabolism*
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Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
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Respiratory Tract Infections / etiology
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Sodium / blood
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Thinness / metabolism
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Uric Acid / blood
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Vitamin A / blood
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beta Carotene / blood
Substances
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Antioxidants
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Bicarbonates
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Electrolytes
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beta Carotene
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Vitamin A
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Uric Acid
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Cholesterol
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Sodium
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Aspartate Aminotransferases
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Alanine Transaminase
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Potassium