D-xylose excretion studies in protein calorie malnutrition: alterations and response to therapy
Sawhney, K.; Kaul, K.K.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 59(3): 434-443
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 5090023 Document Number: 43191
D-Xylose excretion tests were made on 100 children with kwashiorkor and marasmus on admission to hospital and in 30 of them after 4 weeks of diet treatment. On admission 65 of the children had values below 20%. Malabsorption was greater in kwashiorkor than in marasmus and associated morbidity was more frequent in kwashiorkor. Among the patients with diarrhoea no significant difference was seen in xylose excretion between the two types of malnutrition. Subnormal values were seen in 83.3% of children with kwashiorkor and 38.5% of those with marasmus with no diarrhoea. Xylose excretion increased in all 30 children after diet treatment but only 13 patients excreted normal amounts within 4 weeks.