Protein-calorie malnutrition and the significance of cell mass relative to body length

Abstract

Fifty-eight boys 2 to 8 years old who came from the same poverty-stricken area of Guatemala were studied for anthropometric growth (length, weight, arm and calf circumference) and for body composition (deuterium space minus corrected bromide space equals intracellular water, ICW). The boys were divided into four subgroups: 1A, those who had been admitted for reasons other than protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM), representing the nutritional status of the general population; 1B, those who had been fed a hospital diet for 6 months and were considered “normal;” 2A, those clinically malnourished with recent edema; 2B, those who had been classed as clinically malnourished but had had approximately 1 month of rehabilitation. All boys were retarded in length and weight for age by Caucasian standards. Subgroup 1B was considered to be the best nourished group and subgroup 2A the worst. In subgroup 1B the weight age was 5 months ahead of the length age. In subgroup 2A the weight age was 5 months behind length age. Arm and calf circumference were reduced for 2A when compared with 1B. Measurement of ICW (or active tissue mass) was considered against body length. These measurements of ICW fell above the median for normal Caucasian boys for subgroups 1A and 1B and below the Caucasian median for subgroups 2A and 2B. It is postulated that a reduction of ICW relative to body length is indicative of a significant reduction in protein reserves.