Biochemical changes in serum of protein energy malnourished children following Dietary protein repletion

Abstract

The serum levels of total protein, albumin, urea, calcium (Ca2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) where determined during a ten day process of dietary protein repletion in 30 protein energy malnourished (PEM) children and in a control group of thirty healthy children of equivalent age group. The findings show that the total protein, albumin, urea, Ca2+, Na+, and K+ were significantly lower (p<0.05) in PEM patients when compared with healthy controls. These parameters were significantly increased (p<0.05) following the ten-day dietary protein repletion. However, the treated group still had significantly lower values (p<0.05) than the healthy controls. The serum levels of total protein, albumin, urea, Ca2+, Na+, K+, were 45.10 ± 2.70g/L; 28.40 ± 2.10g/L; 1.40 ± 0.39mmol/L; 1.30 ± 0.27mmol/L; 128.00 ± 4.30mmol/L; 2.90 ± 0.60mmol/L respectively in the PEM patients and 5.90 ± 2.90g/L: 33.10 ± 2.3g/L; 2.40 ± 0.49mmol/L; 1.90 ± 0.32mmol/L; 131.00 ± 3.30mmol/L and 3.40 ± 0.30mmol/L respectively following a ten day dietary protein repletion. In the healthy controls the values were 66.00 ± 2.20g/L (total protein); 45.54 ± 2.20g/L (albumin); 3.90 ± 0.40mmol/L (urea); 2.40 ± 0.04mmol/L (Ca2+); 140.00 ± 3.30mmol/L (Na+); 4.80 ± 0.70mmol/L (K+). It is concluded that protein repletion normalizes the biochemical parameters listed above.

Key words: Malnourished children, Protein repletion.


(Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences: 2002 9(1): 43-46)