Vitamin a status in children with protein-energy malnutrition and Measles at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Serum levels of retinol, retinol-binding protein

and prealbumin were measured in 50 children with protein­ energy malnutrition, 17 well-nourished children suffering from measles and 33 children with protein-energy

malnutrition suffering from measles.

compared with 37 controls.

These were

Protein-energy malnu~irtion and measles were found to depress retinol and prealbumin levels. There was no significant difference in mean retinol levels among the study groups. Protein-energy malnutrition with measles combined were found to have a more depressing effect on serum prealbumin level than protein- energy malnutrition alone. Measles on its own did

not have a marked lowering effect on preqlbumin. Only the combination of measles with protein-energy malnutrition were found to have a depressing effect on serum retinol-binding protein level.

In®unisation against measles and supplementation of v~tamin A in the management of children with .protein-energy malnutrition and measles will prevent

xerophthalmia and therefore blindness.