Aromatic Amino Acid Metabolism in the Pathogenesis of Kwashiorkor

This research may explain whether a shortage of three special compounds called aromatic amino acids is responsible for the severe illness and high death rate of children with the kwashiorkor type of malnutrition and whether supplying adequate amounts of these compounds in the treatment diet will speed up recovery from this condition. We propose that decreased availability of the aromatic amino acids may be the reason why children with kwashiorkor are sicker and more difficult to treat.

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Key information

Conditions

Kwashiorkor Malnutrition Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Severe Acute Malnutrition

Age range

6 month–18 month

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies

Mona, Kingston, Kingston-7, Jamaica

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Malnourished children between 6 to 18 months of age.
To standardize for degree of malnutrition, only patients whose weight is < 80 % of that expected for age will be enrolled. By the Wellcome Classification (22), enrolled patients will have marasmus (< 60 % weight/age and no edema), marasmic-kwashiorkor (< 60 % weight/age plus edema) or kwashiorkor (< 80 % weight/age plus edema).
Presence of infection at admission. Infection will be defined by the presence of two or more of the following: Leukocyte count >11,000 cells/dl, temperature at admission > 99 oF, positive blood or urine cultures.

Exclusion criteria

Criteria for exclusion will include presence of cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, metabolic disease or HIV/AIDS.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Baylor College of Medicine

Other

Collaborators

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2006
Study completion: 2010
First posted: Jan 31, 2007
Registry last updated: Feb 26, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed