Biomaterial Database

[Essential fatty acid deficiency in childhood]. 1981

H S Heymans

Essential fatty acid deficiency can develop in man as the consequence of an inadequate diet or fatty acid malabsorption. Daily requirements in childhood vary from 1 to 4 caloric percent. Many abnormalities are described following essential fatty acid deficiency, such as cessation of growth, dermatitis, loss of hair, increased susceptibility to bacterial infections, histological abnormalities and disturbances of biochemical and physiological processes. These disorders can be explained as the result of a disturbed membrane structure and function, due to an abnormal serum fatty acid composition. This is also important in diagnosis of essential fatty acid deficiency. Supplementation of essential fatty acids can be realised by oral and parenteral route or by cutaneous application. A patient is described with an essential fatty acid deficiency. Cutaneous application of a linoleic acid rich mixture resulted in an enhanced growth velocity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D008052	Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors	Errors in the metabolism of LIPIDS resulting from inborn genetic MUTATIONS that are heritable.	Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Error
D009824	Ointments	Semisolid preparations used topically for protective emollient effects or as a vehicle for local administration of medications. Ointment bases are various mixtures of fats, waxes, animal and plant oils and solid and liquid hydrocarbons.	Ointment,Paste,Pastes,Salve,Unguent,Salves,Skin Ointment,Unguents,Ointment, Skin
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005227	Fatty Acids	Organic, monobasic acids derived from hydrocarbons by the equivalent of oxidation of a methyl group to an alcohol, aldehyde, and then acid. Fatty acids are saturated and unsaturated (FATTY ACIDS, UNSATURATED). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Aliphatic Acid,Esterified Fatty Acid,Fatty Acid,Fatty Acids, Esterified,Fatty Acids, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acid,Aliphatic Acids,Acid, Aliphatic,Acid, Esterified Fatty,Acid, Saturated Fatty,Esterified Fatty Acids,Fatty Acid, Esterified,Fatty Acid, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acids
D005228	Fatty Acids, Essential	Long chain organic acid molecules that must be obtained from the diet. Examples are LINOLEIC ACIDS and LINOLENIC ACIDS.	Acids, Essential Fatty,Essential Fatty Acids
D005260	Female		Females
D005504	Food Analysis	Measurement and evaluation of the components of substances to be taken as FOOD.	Analysis, Food,Analyses, Food,Food Analyses
D006130	Growth Disorders	Deviations from the average values for a specific age and sex in any or all of the following: height, weight, skeletal proportions, osseous development, or maturation of features. Included here are both acceleration and retardation of growth.	Stunted Growth,Stunting,Disorder, Growth,Growth Disorder,Growth, Stunted,Stuntings