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Serum Vitamin‐B 12 ‐Binding Proteins in Kwashiorkor *
Author(s) -
Grassmann R.,
Retief F. P.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1969.tb01368.x
Subject(s) - kwashiorkor , vitamin , medicine , albumin , transferrin , endocrinology , ceruloplasmin , vitamin d binding protein , globulin , alpha (finance) , blood proteins , chemistry , malnutrition , surgery , construct validity , patient satisfaction
S ummary . In contrast with plasma albumin and transport proteins such as transferrin and ceruloplasmin, vitamin B 12 ‐binding proteins are not decreased in Cape Coloured children with kwashiorkor. Compared with normal coloured adults the mean serum vitamin B 12 was increased while the unsaturated vitamin B 12 binding capacity (UBBC) was markedly increased mainly due to elevation of the alpha‐1‐globulin vitamin B 12 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 B 12 ‐binder (beta‐binder) was decreased in kwashiorkor. The total serum alpha‐1 and beta‐globulins, showed poor quantitative correlation with alpha‐and beta‐vitamin B 12 ‐binders in these patients. Urinary vitamin B 12 ‐levels were similar in kwashiorkor, normal children and adults. In the small series of adult Cape Coloured subjects studied, serum vitamin B 12 and UBBC values were higher than in white adults. The alpha‐ and beta‐binders of kwashiorkor and normal children adequately transferred 57 Co‐vitamin B 12 to rat liver homogenate while the alpha‐binder of chronic myeloid leukaemia transferred less efficiently.