The Dietary Chloride Deficiency Syndrome

Abstract

Chronic depletion of body chloride developed in a group of infants ingesting a diet consisting almost exclusively of chloride deficient Neo-Mull-Soy. Ten of the 12 infants were on this diet three to five months before loss of appetite, failure to thrive, muscle weakness, and lethargy led to a diagnostic evaluation. The outstanding laboratory features were severe hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, low urinary chloride concentrations (< 10 mEq/liter), and erythrocyturia. There was marked decrease in weight for age in all 12 infants. Head circumference for age had decreased in five of six and length for age in five of ten infants for whom earlier measurements were available. The biochemical abnormalities reverted to normal following dietary supplementation with either sodium or potassium chloride. Appetite, affect, and muscle strength improved, and weight gain resumed. Head circumference for age has moved toward the percentile level present prior to starting Neo-Mull-Soy in all instances. With one exception, length measurements show a similar pattern. The erythrocyturia has decreased or vanished. Chloride deficiency led to contraction of the extracellular volume and the substitution of poorly reabsorbable anions for readily reabsorbable chloride. These alterations caused development of the negative hydrogen ion and potassium balances which led to the hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis.

Enteral Nutrition in Preterm Infants (2022): A Position Paper From the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition and Invited Experts

“…Chloride content in HM is similar at different gestations (85). Low Cl intakes may result in failure to thrive, slower growth, and delayed neurological development (86,87).…”

Hypochloremia Secondary to Diuretics in Preterm Infants: Should Clinicians Pay Close Attention?

“…57 Growth failure associated with chloride deficiency was also reported by other researchers. 58,59 Some have reported even poor cognitive functioning at 2 years of age in the infants exposed to chloride deficient formula in infancy. 60 Extended assessment at 9 to 10 years of age showed that infants who experienced hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis were at risk for deficits in language skills that require expressive language abilities.…”

Хлор (Cl) – значение для организма и здоровья, где содержится

“… слабость, быстрая утомляемость;  плохой аппетит;  повышенная сонливость;  проблемы с памятью;  слабость мышц;  постоянная сухость во рту. [21,22] Симптомы избытка хлора -гиперхлоремия "Передозировка" хлоридами обычно связана с высоким потреблением натрия, что усложняет выявление симптомов чрезмерного потребления. Ученые считают, что потребление обоих веществ вызывает одинаковые негативные последствия для здоровья:…”