Biomaterial Database

Serum retinol-binding protein and vitamin A levels in malnourished children. 1979

V Reddy, and M Mohanram, and N Raghuramulu

Serum levels of vitamin A and retinol-binding protein (RBP) were measured in children with vitamin A deficiency, in children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and in normal children, before and after administration of 100 000 IU of water-miscible vitamin A. Serum vitamin A and RBP levels were significantly low in children with vitamin A deficiency and in children with severe PEM, whereas the values in milder grades of PEM were similar to those of normal subjects. In severely malnourished children with corneal lesions, serum vitamin A concentration was reduced to a much greater extent than the level of serum RBP. Administration of vitamin A resulted in a significant increase in serum levels of both the components within 4 hours in all the 3 groups of children. The increase in RBP concentration observed in children with PEM was similar to that in vitamin A deficient children. These results indicate that in malnourished children, particularly in those who are at risk of developing keratomalacia, vitamin A is the main limiting factor. It is, therefore, recommended that children with PEM should be treated with vitamin A in addition to dietary protein and calories.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D009748	Nutrition Disorders	Disorders caused by nutritional imbalance, either overnutrition or undernutrition.	Nutritional Disorders,Nutrition Disorder,Nutritional Disorder
D011502	Protein-Energy Malnutrition	The lack of sufficient energy or protein to meet the body's metabolic demands, as a result of either an inadequate dietary intake of protein, intake of poor quality dietary protein, increased demands due to disease, or increased nutrient losses.	Marasmus,Protein-Calorie Malnutrition,Malnutrition, Protein-Calorie,Malnutrition, Protein-Energy,Malnutritions, Protein-Energy,Protein Calorie Malnutrition,Protein Energy Malnutrition
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002664	Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena	Nutritional physiology of children aged 2-12 years.	Child Nutrition Physiology,Child Nutritional Physiology Phenomena,Nutrition Physiology, Child,Child Nutritional Physiology,Child Nutritional Physiology Phenomenon,Nutritional Physiology, Child,Physiology, Child Nutrition,Physiology, Child Nutritional
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012177	Retinol-Binding Proteins	Proteins which bind with RETINOL. The retinol-binding protein found in plasma has an alpha-1 mobility on electrophoresis and a molecular weight of about 21 kDa. The retinol-protein complex (MW	Retinoid Binding Protein,Retinol Binding Protein,Retinoid Binding Protein, F-Type,Retinoid Binding Proteins,Retinol Binding Proteins,Binding Protein, Retinoid,Binding Protein, Retinol,Binding Proteins, Retinoid,Binding Proteins, Retinol,Protein, Retinoid Binding,Protein, Retinol Binding,Retinoid Binding Protein, F Type
D014801	Vitamin A	Retinol and derivatives of retinol that play an essential role in metabolic functioning of the retina, the growth of and differentiation of epithelial tissue, the growth of bone, reproduction, and the immune response. Dietary vitamin A is derived from a variety of CAROTENOIDS found in plants. It is enriched in the liver, egg yolks, and the fat component of dairy products.	Retinol,11-cis-Retinol,3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2,4,6,8-nonatetraen-1-ol, (all-E)-Isomer,All-Trans-Retinol,Aquasol A,Vitamin A1,All Trans Retinol
D014802	Vitamin A Deficiency	A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of VITAMIN A in the diet, characterized by NIGHT BLINDNESS and other ocular manifestations such as dryness of the conjunctiva and later of the cornea (XEROPHTHALMIA). Vitamin A deficiency is a very common problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries as a consequence of famine or shortages of vitamin A-rich foods. In the United States it is found among the urban poor, the elderly, alcoholics, and patients with malabsorption. (From Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th ed, p1179)	Deficiency, Vitamin A,Deficiencies, Vitamin A,Vitamin A Deficiencies