Abstract
Background: Under nutrition causes reduced growth and endocrine adaptations in order to maintain basic life processes. Protein energy malnutrition often coexists with micronutrient deficiencies. Malnutrition results from multiple deficiencies, not necessarily limited to lack of proteins or calories, but also involving other associated or separate factors such as deficiency of trace elements, such as copper and zinc and lipid profile. Methods: A case control study was carried out in department of Pediatrics, Maharani Laxmi Bai (MLB) Medical College, Jhansi from September 2009 to August 2010. 108 cases & 108 matched controls were recruited according to sex, weight and height after written informed consent with the approval of ethical committee. Total cholesterol and fractions (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol) and triglycerides concentrations were determined by automated enzymatic methods. The results were analyzed by the appropriate statistical test. Results: In present study, more than half children were suffered from marasmus as an acute malnutrition and most of children were of below 24 months of age. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL levels were lower in PEM children while LDL & VLDL levels were higher in malnourished children group. Conclusion: The prevalence of under nutrition and dyslipidaemia observed in these children is a matter of concern considering the age group evaluated. These Biochemical parameters were found to be sensitive indicators for nutritional status and can be used for diagnosis of sub clinical case of protein energy malnutrition (PEM).
Highlights
Never before in the history, has the human race faced a situation as it does today
Selection of Cases- Infants and preschool children aged 6 months to 59 months suffering from malnutrition weighing less than 80% of 50th percentile according to Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) classification for their age would comprise the cases
Selection of Control Group- Infants and preschool children aged 6 months to 59 months weighing more than 80% of 50th percentile according to IAP classification for their age, who will be appreciating healthy, would be selected for the control group.108 sex matched normal children were picked from outpatient clinic at Maharani Laxmi Bai (MLB) Hospital served as control group
Summary
Never before in the history, has the human race faced a situation as it does today. It stands at a point where millions in the developing countries suffer from perpetual hunger. Many die every day directly or indirectly from malnutrition. Children are the worst victims, and kwashiorkor and marasmus are the printable symbols of this immense human misery. The World Health Organization defines undernutrition as the outcome of a variety of pathological conditions that result from deficiencies in absorption, transportation or utilization of nutrients by cells of the body. It is estimated that more than one quarter of the global population of children are currently affected by protein-energy undernutrition (PEU) [1]
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