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Plasma concentrations of N-acetylneuraminic acid in severe malnutrition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2008

Jacqueline M. Hibbert ,
Alan A. Jackson  and
Sally M. Grantham-Mcgregor
Jacqueline M. Hibbert
Affiliation:
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies
Alan A. Jackson
Affiliation:
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies
Sally M. Grantham-Mcgregor
Affiliation:
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies
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Abstract

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1. In rat studies, circulating concentrations of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) have been shown to be an indicator of NANA concentrations in the brain and functional brain activity, in relation to nutritional state and stimulation. Abnormal behaviour can be improved with exogenous NANA. In the present study, the plasma NANA concentration has been measured in children with severe malnutrition and compared with that in controls.

2. NANA was measured colorimetrically in the plasma of twenty-three severely malnourished children (mean age 11.43 (SD 6.05) months) before and after recovery, and in thirty-four controls (mean age 14.28 (SD 7.32) months). In thirteen of the malnourished children, NANA was measured after infections had been treated with a course of antibiotics.

3. Mean plasma NANA concentration was significantly higher in protein-energy malnutrition (PEM)(2.89 (SD 0,58)μmol/ml; n 23) compared with controls (2.13(SD 0.37)μmol/ml; n 34, P < 0.001). The levels remained high in PEM after infections had been treated (2.87(SD 0.43) μmol/ml, n 13) but returned to control levels at recovery from PEM (2.14(SD 0.24)μmol/ml).

4. In contrast to the findings in rats, in malnourished children plasma NANA concentrations were not reduced and did not relate directly to nutritional state or, by inference, brain function. These findings do not provide any support for the use of exogenous NANA supplements to improve brain function in humans.

Type
Papers of direct relevance to Clinical and Human Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 53 , Issue 1 , January 1985 , pp. 11 - 16
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1985

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