CHANGES IN BODY WATER AND BODY SOLIDS IN AFRICAN ADULTS AND THEIR RELATION TO NUTRITION

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Abstract
The total body water of a number of groups of African subjects has been measured, using tritiated water. None of the subjects were œdematous or showed signs of malnutrition. In some individuals nitrogen balances were also considered.The observations were undertaken in order to throw light on the discrepancy between changes in body weight, and retention of nitrogen which has been noted by a number of authors. They seem to show that retention of protein is not necessarily accompanied by the retention of a fixed amount of water, and that lipids may sometimes be lost as protein is retained.The bearing of the findings on the current theories of body composition is discussed. It is inferred that the lean body mass may not be of constant composition in persons who, while not suffering from recognizable malnutrition, and leading ordinary lives, are accustomed to nutritional standards common in underdeveloped countries, but below those enjoyed by more sophisticated and wealthier communities.

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