Plasma Tryptophan and Other Amino Acids in Pellagra

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Fasting plasma free tryptophan concentrations were significantly reduced in a small sample of untreated pellagrins. In pellagrous children, tryptophan was no lower than in kwashiorkor. But the branched-chain amino acids and tyrosine, though moderately reduced, were higher than in kwashiorkor. In the adult pellagrins, only plasma tryptophan was low. The branched-chain amino acids and tyrosine were normal. Plasma tryptophan may prove to be a convenient biochemical test to confirm the diagnosis of pellagra on a blood sample.