Open AccessSerum Phosphorus in Protein Energy Malnutrition
Author(s) -
I Freiman,
John M. Pettifor,
G Moodley
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/00005176-198212000-00016
Subject(s) - medicine , malnutrition , protein–energy malnutrition , phosphorus , protein malnutrition , metallurgy , materials science
Phosphorus depletion in malnutrition has not generally received attention. Serum phosphorus was measured in healthy infants (1.8 mmol/L), in well-nourished infants with acute dehydrating gastroenteritis, and in infants suffering from malnutrition. Serum phosphorus levels were found to be low in well-nourished infants with acute dehydrating gastroenteritis (1.32 mmol/L) an exceptionally low in infants with kwashiorkor (1.10 mmol/L) especially when the latter condition was accompanied by severe diarrhoea (0.66 mmol/L). Hypophosphatemia, as well as hypokalemia, was associated with marked hypotonia. Low levels of serum phosphorus occurred in nine of the 10 malnourished children who died.