Subclinical protein-energy malnutrition in under-privileged Ethiopian mothers and their newborn infants.
An increased glycine/valine ratio in the maternal and cord vein plasma was observed in under-privileged women and their newborn babies in Ethiopia. There was a delay in the decrease of branch-chained amino acids during the immediate neonatal period. These findings indicate malnutrition in utero and are identical with those of a previous study in an under-privileged group in Pakistan. A reduced cord/maternal ratio of tyrosine and methionine was found in the Ethiopian material, indicating placental dysfunction of unknown origin.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D005998:Glycine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007532:Isoleucine / Q000097:blood; D008715:Methionine / Q000097:blood; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000097:blood; D014633:Valine / Q000097:blood
D007532:Isoleucine; D014443:Tyrosine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine; D005998:Glycine