Relation of Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins to Fatty Liver in Kwashiorkor

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Abstract
In 19 children with kwashiorkor, before and during treatment with high protein, very low fat diets, measurements were made of serum hipoproteins (by paper electrophoresis), phospholipid fractions (by thin-layer chromatography), and total cholesterol, triglyceride, and phospholipid. The group with more severe fatty liver (by needle biopsy) had lower mean initial serum beta-lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and albumin, but alpha-lipoprotein and phosphatidyl choline were not reduced. During treatment, serum lipids rose above normal levels, triglyceride before cholesterol, and pre-beta-lipoprotein appeared. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that reduced synthesis of low density lipoproteins is a major cause of the fatty liver in kwashiorkor. No evidence was found to implicate lipotropic factor deficiency.