title: Urinary excretion of arylsulfatases in malnourished/vitamin A deficient children.
abstract: Serum vitamin A (retinol) levels were generally low in all malnourished children (6-15 microgram/100 ml) compared with control children (50 microgram/100 ml). A significant increase in vitamin A after appropriate therapy was observed in all malnourished groups. Dietary supplements of proteins and calories even without extra vitamin A supplements increased serum vitamin A levels in cases of kwashiorkor indicating active mobilization of liver vitamin A. Total urinary arylsulfatase A activity excreted in 24-h or within 8-h in the morning (6 a.m. to 2 p.m.) was significantly reduced in cases of malnutrition with or without mild vitamin A deficiency symptoms. The excretion of arylsulfatase B was not altered. In cases of severe vitamin A deficiency coupled with malnutrition increased excretion of both arylsulfatases A and B was evident. These results on urinary arylsulfatases excretory pattern have been obtained either in samples collected for 24-h or specifically for 8-h (morning) and it is suggested that this test on urinary arylsulfatases may prove useful for detection of acute vitamin A deficiency with malnutrition in field studies. A ratio of arylsulfatases A/B of 2.0 or less seems to indicate mild malnutrition, the normal ratio being 3.4. Furthermore a low ratio coupled with increased excretion of both arylsulfatases A and B may be considered specific for acute vitamin A deficiency.
mesh_terms: D001192:Arylsulfatases / Q000652:urine*; D002553:Cerebroside-Sulfatase / Q000652:urine; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002803:Chondro-4-Sulfatase / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007732:Kwashiorkor / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000201:enzymology*; D013429:Sulfatases / Q000652:urine*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D013429:Sulfatases; D001192:Arylsulfatases; D002553:Cerebroside-Sulfatase; D002803:Chondro-4-Sulfatase