Chemical composition of organs of children who died from malnutrition

Abstract

1. Chemical analysis was carried out on samples of brain, liver, skeletal muscle, heart and kidney obtained from children who died of malnutrition. Total body potassium was measured before autopsy by the ‘whole body counting’ technique. 2. There was a marked increase in liver fat, and the brain contributed a higher percentage of the body-weight in the more severely malnourished children. 3. All the organs had approximately the same concentrations of non-collagen nitrogen. The proportion of collagen was highest in muscle. 4. All organs were depleted of potassium, but the muscle was most severely affected. Brain potassium as a percentage of total body potassium was higher than normal in the most severely potassium depleted children. 5. Measurements of tissue magnesium showed that there was no difference in magnesium content of tissues when expressed in terms of non-collagen nitrogen. When compared with normal values, muscle was magnesium depleted. The potassium to magnesium ratio was lowest in muscle.