Abstract
Summary. In contrast with plasma albumin and transport proteins such as transferrin and ceruloplasmin, vitamin B12‐binding proteins are not decreased in Cape Coloured children with kwashiorkor. Compared with normal coloured adults the mean serum vitamin B12 was increased while the unsaturated vitamin B12 binding capacity (UBBC) was markedly increased mainly due to elevation of the alpha‐1‐globulin vitamin B12 binder (alpha‐binder). In normal coloured children the UBBC was also increased with mean alpha‐binder intermediate between values found in kwashiorkor and normal coloured adults. The mean beta‐globulin‐vitamin B12‐binder (beta‐binder) was decreased in kwashiorkor. The total serum alpha‐1 and beta‐globulins, showed poor quantitative correlation with alpha‐and beta‐vitamin B12‐binders in these patients. Urinary vitamin B12‐levels were similar in kwashiorkor, normal children and adults. In the small series of adult Cape Coloured subjects studied, serum vitamin B12 and UBBC values were higher than in white adults.The alpha‐ and beta‐binders of kwashiorkor and normal children adequately transferred 57 Co‐vitamin B12 to rat liver homogenate while the alpha‐binder of chronic myeloid leukaemia transferred less efficiently.
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