Effect of malnutrition on several parameters of the immune system of children

In order to study the relationship between nutritional status and immunity, certain biochemical and immunological parameters were examined in 53 children with mild or severe malnutrition and 35 normal controls. The levels of hemoglobin, total serum protein and complement (C'3) were not affected by malnutrition. There was a significant depression of serum albumin, transferrin and ceruloplasmin in the severely malnourished children. Serum IgM, IgG and IgD were normal in both malnourished groups. The level of serum IgA was elevated only in the severely malnourished children. The proportion of B cells was the same in all groups; howver, the frequency of T cells was reduced in the severely malnourished cases.