title: Serum phosphorus in protein energy malnutrition.
abstract: Phosphorus depletion in malnutrition has not generally received attention. Serum phosphorus was measured in healthy infants (1.8 mmol/L), in well-nourished infants with acute dehydrating gastroenteritis, and in infants suffering from malnutrition. Serum phosphorus levels were found to be low in well-nourished infants with acute dehydrating gastroenteritis (1.32 mmol/L) an exceptionally low in infants with kwashiorkor (1.10 mmol/L) especially when the latter condition was accompanied by severe diarrhoea (0.66 mmol/L). Hypophosphatemia, as well as hypokalemia, was associated with marked hypotonia. Low levels of serum phosphorus occurred in nine of the 10 malnourished children who died.
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007732:Kwashiorkor / Q000097:blood; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000209:etiology; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood*; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus