ALBUMIN METABOLISM IN CHILDREN WITH PROTEIN MALNUTRITION1

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Abstract
Fourteen Mexican children with severe protein malnutrition were studied to determine changes in rate of synthesis, distribution, and degradation of plasma albumin in the hypoalbuminemia consistently observed in this disorder. A tracer dose of I131 labeled human serum albumin was injected soon after admission and the disappearance of radioactivity from the serum was followed for three weeks. In 8 children a second tracer dose was injected 6 to 8 weeks later. All but one child were given a diet with adequate calories and a milk supplement. The average half-life of albumin was slightly shorter than usual for children (range 6.6 to 14.5 days, average 9.7 days) but did not change appreciably on second determination, although serum albumin concentration had returned to normal. The slight increase in albumin catabolism (5-7% per day) was inadequate to explain the marked hypoalbuminemia, which was considered to be due primarily to decreased synthesis.