Protein malnutrition: correlation between anthropometric and biochemical assessment

Three hundred and eighty-six children aged 12-59 months, suffering from protein-calorie malnutrition were studied. Middle arm circumference and triceps skin-fold measurements were taken and from these values, middle arm muscular circumference was calclated. Simultaneously, the serum amino-acid balance was determined. The same measurements were carried out in 132 healthy control children of the same age group. These showed that middle arm muscular circumference does not change within the age groups studied, and with its value the amino-acid balance showed an inverse correlation. It is concluded that the severity of protein imbalance in malnutrition can be estimated on the basis of both middle arm muscular circumference and amino-acid balance. In view of its simple technique the former parameter is given preference.