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Intermediary Metabolites and Adenine Nucleotides in Leucocytes of Children with Protein–Calorie Malnutrition

Abstract

THE possibility of impaired energy metabolism in kwashiorkor (protein–calorie malnutrition of children) has been suggested by many investigators1–4. Our previous observations of muscle demonstrated that not only were the contents of phosphoenolpyruvate and oxaloacetate markedly reduced, but also activities of the enzymes pyruvic kinase, isocitric dehydrogenase and malic dehydrogenase were decreased significantly5. These observations suggested inhibition of terminal glycolysis and citric acid cycle metabolism and, therefore, of cellular energy metabolism.

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YOSHIDA, T., METCOFF, J., FRENK, S. et al. Intermediary Metabolites and Adenine Nucleotides in Leucocytes of Children with Protein–Calorie Malnutrition. Nature 214, 525–526 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/214525a0

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