title: Effect of low-level pathogenic helminth infection on energy metabolism in Gambian children.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine whether an increase in resting energy expenditure (REE) contributes to the impaired nutritional status of Gambian children infected by a low level of infection with pathogenic helminths. The REE of 24 children infected with hookworm, Ascaris, Strongyloides, or Trichuris (mean +/- SEM age = 11.9 +/- 0.1 years) and eight controls without infection (mean +/- SEM age = 11.8 +/- 0.1 years) were measured by indirect calorimetry with a hood system (test A). This measurement was repeated after treatment with 400 mg of albendazole (patients) or a placebo (controls) (test B). When normalized for fat free mass, REE in test A was not different in the patients (177 +/- 2 kJ/kg x day) and in the controls (164 +/- 7 kJ/kg x day); furthermore, REE did not change significantly after treatment in the patients (173 +/- 3 kJ/kg x day) or in the controls (160 +/- 8 kJ/kg x day). There was no significant difference in the respiratory quotient between patients and controls, nor between tests A and B. It is concluded that a low level of helminth infection does not affect significantly the energy metabolism of Gambian children.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stettler
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Schutz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jequier
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001831:Body Temperature; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010270:Parasite Egg Count
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide