MUSCULAR SUFFICIENCY, SERUM-PROTEIN, ENZYMES AND BIOENERGETIC STUDIES(31-PHOSPHORUS MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY) IN CHRONIC MALNUTRITION

Muscle sufficiency was significantly lower in 1336 children with chron ic malnutrition of moderate to severe degree. Eighteen children with a chronic moderate degree of malnutrition and 8 well-nourished, age-mat ched controls were selected for biochemical and 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31-P MRS) studies. The results showed that: ( a) serum total protein, albumin, iron, calcium and inorganic phosphate were similar in both groups; (b) serum enzyme levels were significant ly increased in the malnourished group; (c) 31-P MRS showed significan tly higher means for total ATP, beta-ATP, alpha-ATP and inorganic phos phate for the malnourished compared to the control group. In chronic m alnutrition, proteins are maintained by degradation in muscle resultin g in release of amino acids and enzymes. 31-P MRS studies showing incr eases in total ATP, beta-ATP and inorganic phosphate and a decrease in phosphocreatine suggest that ATP is maintained at the cost of phospho creatine.