Malnutrition and Adoption—Two Variables in Infant Development

Abstract

. N. H. Sbarra hospital. All of this study group dren had suffered from second or third degree malnutrition at the time of admission to the hospital. The mean age at hospitalization was WILSON ORTIZ AND MARC0 BORSOTTI Department of Pediatrics, 5 months and the mean stay in the hospital was 6 months. The Faculty ofMedicine, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Universidad Tecnica physical and developmental progress was compared with a control de Ambato, Ecuador group of 17 well nourished children of similar ape at hosvitalizaThe nutritional status of children is the product of many ecologic factors, including social, cultural, economic, educational, and emotional, as well as the biologic determinants. A descriptive study has been conducted to evaluate the relative importance of these variables to the nutritional status of rural and urban Ecuadorean children. Two hundred twenty-four families were evaluated. One hundred ninety-four of the families studied constitute the present investigation.Significant differences were observed between urban and rural populations in terms of maternal age and maternal education. The average ingestion of animal proteins is much lower in the rural populations. Nutritional status is inferior in the rural children.Multiple regression equations revealed a strong correlation between the nutritional status of the children and the ingestion of animal proteins. However, in specific population groups, a relationship was also evident between vegetable protein and nutritional status. Sociocultural environmental variables were significantly correlated with nutritional status; however, these varGbles differed in ranks of importance among the various rural and urban population groups.It can be concluded that the nutritional status'of the rural children is substantially less than that of the urban study group. The ecologic factors vary in relative importance among these study groups and appear to be specific in their impact on the nutritional status. The net acid balance technique of Lennon et al. (1966) permits the simultaneous measurement of acid production and excretion. Seven marasmic infants were studied during the first 6 days of treatment for diarrheal dehydration. As a control, five well nourished infants were studied during recovery from dehydration. Net Acid Balance in Marasmic Infants during Recovery from Diarrheal DehydrationAcid excretion was higher in marasmic infants, with significant differences on the third and sixth days. These differences are due to higher excretion of NH4 and titratable acidity. Acid production of marasmic infants was lower, with significant differences on the third and fourth days. These differences are due to lower excretion of SO, and higher absorption of "combustible anions." Net acid balance was lower in marasmic infants with significant differences on the first and third days. Cumulated net acid balance was significantly lower in marasmic infants during all 6 days of study.These findings suggest that, in marasmus, mechanisms of disposal of acid load are effe...