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