EFFECT OF VITAMIN A THERAPY ON THE RETINOL AND RETIMOL-BINDING PROTEIN IN NIGERIAN CHILDREN WITH MEASLES, MALNUTRITION AND OTHER PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

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Date
1980
Authors
JAMES, HELMINA OLUFUNMILAYO
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Abstract
Vitamin A therapy was administered to Children with various pathological conditions other than measles and malnutrition (B), children suffering from malnutrition without measles infection (C), children with proven cases of measles infection without malnutrition (D), and children with measles and malnutrition (E). The changes in the plasma retinol and retinol-binding protein (RBP) were evaluated in these subjects. Children between the ages of 6 weeks to 36 months were treated with 50,000 - 100,000 i.u of retinyl palmitate depending on the age of the child and severity of the disease condition. RBP and prealbumin wore determined using radial immunodifuasion technique, while retinol and retinyl ester were determined using the trifluoroacetic acid method. The control population (A) had higher retinol and RBP than all other groups of subjects studied. These differences were significant (p<O.Ol) when A was compared with C, D and E. The mean plasma retinol differed significantly between groups B and C, D and E (p<.0.01, p <. 0.001, respectively). Similarly, the mean plasma RBP between groups B and C, D and E were significant (p<.0.02, p c.0.001, respectively). In all categories of patients studied, vitamin A therapy significantly raised the mean plasma retinol (B: p<0o05, C: p<O.Ol, D: p<.0.005, E: p<O.005) and RBP levels (B: p <0.05, C: p <.0.05, D: p <.0.005, E: p<.0.005). The raised retinol value was still significant (p<0.05) 4-7 days after therapy in D while the increase in RBP was not significant. The reasons for the positive correlations existing between retinol and RBP, retinol and prealbumin, and between prealbumin and RBP in some of the categories of children studied were discussed. This study has indicated that measles infection, and measles in association with other diseases such as malnutrition, significantly impair the metabolism of retinol, probably due to the insufficiency of the carrier protein, RBP as a consequence of inadequate protein intake or utilization- However, further study would be necessary to confirm this. In view of the high incidence of eye complication associated with measles and malnutrition including blindness, the results of this investigation would form a necessary aspect of future public health education programme that might require the administration of vitamin A to children for the prevention of hypovitaminosis A and consequent associated pathological conditions. However, it is suggested that such a public health programme should include some form of protein supplementation.
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Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY FACULTY OF SCIENCE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
EFFECT,, VITAMIN,, THERAPY,, RETINOL,, RETIMOL-BINDING,, PROTEIN,, NIGERIAN CHILDREN,, MEASLES,, MALNUTRITION,, PATHOLOGICAL,, CONDITIONS
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