Plasma Amino Acids and the Detection of Protein-Calorie Malnutrition

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Abstract
Elevation of the ratio of certain “nonessential” to certain “essential” free amino acids in the serum has been suggested as a possible aid in the diagnosis of “potential” or “subclinical” kwashiorkor. As reported by others, it was found in a group of Jordanian children hospitalized with kwashiorkor that the ratio was frequently elevated before treatment and tended to return to within normal limits during treatment. The ratio was not elevated in cases of marasmus. In a field study of 260 children, a ratio of between 2.1 and 4.0 was not found to correlate with weight deficit or to be helpful in identifying the “potential” case of malnutrition. These results are discussed in relation to the results of others, and possible explanations for the differences found are offered.

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