Abstract
The order and magnitude of alterations in laboratory values occurring with progressive protein malnutrition are presently poorly understood. Four young female pig tail monkeys were given a 34% protein diet and four other young females an isocaloric protein free diet for 20 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained every 2 weeks for biochemical analyses. The mean body weights in the two groups were identical initially, but the protein deprived group steadily lost weight and were 20% below controls after 10 weeks and 39% after 20 weeks. Edema was present 15 weeks after initiation of protein deficient diet. The BUN and serum amylase levels were the first tests affected, and were significantly decreased (p < .01) after only two weeks of protein free diet. They were decreased a mean of 64–96% during the 20 weeks of observation. Serum transferrin levels have been reported to be the best screening test for kwashiorkor (Lancet, p. 392, 1969), but in this study were not significantly altered until after 6 weeks of protein deprivation. They were thereafter decreased a mean of 24–33%. Progressive reduction in total serum proteins (6.55 ± 0.51 g% at 2 weeks, 4.62 ± 0.78 g% at 20 weeks) and serum albumin (3.27 ± 0.39 g% at 2 weeks and 1.35 ± 0.44 g% at 20 weeks) occurred in the poorly nourished group, but were not consistently lower than control values until after 10 weeks of protein deprivation. Blood cholesterol levels were decreased significantly only after 16 weeks of protein free diet, and alkaline phosphatase and glucose values were not altered at any stage of deprivation. This study indicates that reduced BUN and serum amylase levels are good indices for the diagnosis of early protein malnutrition, whereas, reduction of transferrin, total serum proteins, and albumin are indicative of sustained deprivation.
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Jumar, V., Hammond, K. & Chase, P. Diagnostic value of laboratory tests in progressive protein malnutrition. Pediatr Res 5, 375 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00019
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00019