American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 27, 260-267, Copyright © 1974 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Plasma and red cell water and elements in protein-calorie malnutrition

¹ From the Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, and the Department of Biophysics, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt

The content of water and elements was estimated in the plasma and red cells of 20 patients with kwashiorkor, 25 patients with marasmus, and 25 normal controls.

1) In kwashiorkor but not in marasmus, the levels of plasma and red cell water were elevated.

2) Plasma and red cell sodium values were significantly higher in kwashiorkor than in normal controls. In marasmus, the erythrocyte sodium was high, but the plasma sodium was not affected.

3) Potassium values in plasma and red cells in kwashiorkor were significantly low. A small insignificant drop was present in the plasma and red cells of marasmic patients.

4) Plasma calcium was not significantly different in either group from normal controls; erythrocyte calcium was low in both groups.

5) Magnesium level was significantly low in both groups whether measured in plasma or red cells.

6) In kwashiorkor and marasmus, plasma and erythrocyte copper was significantly lower than in the controls.

7) Plasma and red cell zinc was low in kwashiorkor and marasmus.

Associated diarrhea had a significant effect only on the level of plasma and red cell magnesium.

The above changes were corrected with treatment.