Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-xxrs7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T10:52:38.617Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Plasma concentrations of N-acetylneuraminic acid in severe malnutrition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2008

Jacqueline M. Hibbert
Affiliation:
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies
Alan A. Jackson
Affiliation:
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies
Sally M. Grantham-Mcgregor
Affiliation:
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. In rat studies, circulating concentrations of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) have been shown to be an indicator of NANA concentrations in the brain and functional brain activity, in relation to nutritional state and stimulation. Abnormal behaviour can be improved with exogenous NANA. In the present study, the plasma NANA concentration has been measured in children with severe malnutrition and compared with that in controls.

2. NANA was measured colorimetrically in the plasma of twenty-three severely malnourished children (mean age 11.43 (SD 6.05) months) before and after recovery, and in thirty-four controls (mean age 14.28 (SD 7.32) months). In thirteen of the malnourished children, NANA was measured after infections had been treated with a course of antibiotics.

3. Mean plasma NANA concentration was significantly higher in protein-energy malnutrition (PEM)(2.89 (SD 0,58)μmol/ml; n 23) compared with controls (2.13(SD 0.37)μmol/ml; n 34, P < 0.001). The levels remained high in PEM after infections had been treated (2.87(SD 0.43) μmol/ml, n 13) but returned to control levels at recovery from PEM (2.14(SD 0.24)μmol/ml).

4. In contrast to the findings in rats, in malnourished children plasma NANA concentrations were not reduced and did not relate directly to nutritional state or, by inference, brain function. These findings do not provide any support for the use of exogenous NANA supplements to improve brain function in humans.

Type
Papers of direct relevance to Clinical and Human Nutrition
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1985

References

REFERENCES

Alleyne, G. A. O., Hay, R. W., Picou, D. I., Stanfield, J. P. & Whitehead, R. G. (1977). Protein Energy Malnutrition, pp. 4849. London: Edward Arnold.Google Scholar
Anon (1970). Lancet ii, 302303.Google Scholar
Dacremont, G. (1972). Clinica Chimica Acta 37, 449454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grantham-McGregor, S. M., Powell, C., Stewart, M. & Schofield, W. N. (1982). Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 24, 321331.Google Scholar
Grantham-Mcgregor, S. M., Stewart, M. & Desai, P. (1978). Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 20, 773778.Google Scholar
Grantham-Mcgregor, S. M., Stewart, M. E. & Schofield, W. N. (1980). Lancet ii, 785789.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Landman, J. & Jackson, A. A. (1980). West Indian Medical Journal 29, 229238.Google Scholar
Ledeen, R. W. (1978). Journal of Supramolecular Structure 8, 117.Google Scholar
Lloyd-Still, J. D. (1976). Malnutrition and Intellectual Development, pp. 103159. Lancaster: MTP Press.Google Scholar
Maghrabi, R. H. & Waslien, C. I. (1976). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 29, 146150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, B. L. G. (1980). Human Nutrition, pp. 275289. New York: American Association for Clinical Chemistry.Google Scholar
Morgan, B. L. G. (1981). Use of Plasma N-acetylneuraminic acid to assess the effects of malnutrition on brain development. XIIth International Congress of NutritionSan Diego, California (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Morgan, B. L. G. & Winick, M. (1980 a). Journal of Nutrition 110, 416424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, B. L. G. & Winick, M. (1980 b). Journal of Nutrition 110, 425432.Google Scholar
Morgan, B. L. G. & Winick, M. (1981). British Journal of Nutrition 46, 231237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Kennedy, R. (1979). Irish Journal of Medical Science 148, 9296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patwardhan, V. N., Maghrabi, R. H., Mousa, W., Gabr, M. K. & Maraghy, S. (1971). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 24, 906912.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rahmann, H., Rosner, H. & Breer, H. (1976). Journal of Theoretical Biology 57, 231237.Google Scholar
Renlund, M., Chester, M. A., Lundblad, A., Parkkinen, J. & Krusius, T. (1983). European Journal of Biochemistry 130, 3945.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharma, N. C. & Sur, B. K. (1967). Indian Journal of Medical Research 55, 380384.Google Scholar
Sharma, N. C. & Sur, B. K. (1969). Clinical Science 36, 317321.Google Scholar
Warren, L. (1959). Journal of Biological Chemistry 234, 19711975.Google Scholar