title: Survey of the essence of malnutrition on the basis of our thermoregulation research work.
abstract: The parameters of the vital functions prove beyond all doubt that, at the customary ward temperature, the vital functions of the true malnourished infants are subnormal; in contrast, in response to the thermoneutral climate at 29 degrees C, they accelerate and then normalize. The disturbance of the thermal regulation, which develops in response to the extreme physical disparity of the malnourished infant and to the inadequate environment, is eliminated in the warm, comfort climate. It was proved that the vital functions (neuroendocrinological function, basal metabolism, blood circulation, metabolism, absorption, utilization, assimilation, tolerance, etc.) approximate the physiological levels in this milieu. The levels previously reported in the literature and textbooks concerning malnourished infants who had been cured of their actual disease were not assessed in this environment, but at the customary ward temperature, i.e. under inadequate conditions. Accordingly, such results are not real; they rather reflect the distorted data on the forced adaptation which develops in response to the chronic burden of the aphysiological environment. The comparative experiments assessing the influences of the environmental temperature clearly demonstrated that the physiological milieu for true malnourished infants is the comfort climate at elevated temperature (around 29 degrees C). In severe infantile malnutrition the thermoregulation of the vital processes is an important and decisive factor. Recognition of the vital role of a thermoneutral comfort environment shed light on the basic features of the aetiopathogenesis, the pathophysiology and the adaptation mechanism, and revealed the only correct means of quantitative and qualitative feeding for normalization of development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University Medical School, Debrecen.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kulin
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy