American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 24, 1212-1215, Copyright © 1971 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Serum triglycerides and fatty acids in kwashiorkor

¹ From the Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

1) The levels of serum total cholesterol, cholesterol esters, phospholipids, and total fatty acids in kwashiorkor children were found to be significantly lower than the levels in the control children, but there was no significant difference in the serum triglyceride levels.

2) The levels of the serum triglycerides and total fatty acids of the eight admitted kwashiorkor children showed a marked rise during the first 20 days of treatment and a fall to the control level on the 30th day, whereas the levels of serum total cholesterol, cholesterol esters, and phospholipids still remained elevated on the 30th day.

3) The main abnormality observed in the serum total fatty acids composition of the kwashiorkor children when compared with those of the control children was a marked decrease in the percentages and concentrations of linoleic and arachidonic acids.