title: The role of retinol-binding protein in protein-calorie malnutrition.
abstract: Plasma RBP is decreased to 1.62 mg plus or minus 0.71/100 ml, or 31.1 percent of normal, in the acute stage of kwashiorkor. RBP doubles its plasma level after 1 wk and triples after 2 wk of appropriate refeeding. The return to normal of RPB runs in close parallel with prealbumin (PA), implying that both components remain bound by 1:1 molar ratio in the PA-RBP complex. Low values recorded on admission for RBP seem to be the result of reduced liver biosynthesis. On the other hand, a high correlation persists between RBP and retinol plasma level along the successive steps of clinical recovery, suggesting that RBP acts as the limiting factor for retinol transport.
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000378:metabolism; D007732:Kwashiorkor / Q000378:metabolism; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012675:Senegal; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D011228:Prealbumin; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014801:Vitamin A