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Vitamin E deficiency and associated neurological deficits in children with protein-energy malnutrition
1Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Vitamin E deficiency is common in children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), causing significant neurological problems. Supplementation may reverse these deficits, highlighting the importance of vitamin E for child development.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Nutritional Science
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Vitamin E is crucial for neurological health.
- Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a widespread condition affecting children globally.
- Neurological complications are observed in malnourished populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of vitamin E deficiency in children with PEM.
- To correlate vitamin E levels with neurological deficits in these children.
- To assess the potential for neurological recovery with vitamin E supplementation.
Main Methods:
- Studied 100 children with PEM and compared them to an age-matched control group.
- Assessed neurological function, including posterior column and cerebellar deficits, and fine motor coordination.
- Measured serum alpha-tocopherol levels and the tocopherol/total lipid ratio to assess vitamin E status.
Main Results:
- Children with PEM exhibited significant posterior column deficits, cerebellar deficits, and impaired fine motor coordination.
- Vitamin E deficiency, indicated by low serum alpha-tocopherol and low tocopherol/total lipid ratio, was present in 92% of PEM subjects.
- A strong correlation was found between low vitamin E levels and the presence of neurological deficits.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin E deficiency is highly prevalent in children suffering from protein-energy malnutrition.
- The observed neurological deficits in malnourished children are significantly linked to low vitamin E levels.
- Vitamin E supplementation offers a potentially reversible treatment for these malnutrition-induced neurological issues.
Abstract:
Vitamin E is important in maintaining normal neurological structure and function. In this study, 100 children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) were studied and compared to a suitably age-matched control group. Posterior column deficits, cerebellar deficits, and problems with fine motor coordination were present to a significant degree in the PEM subjects. The presence of neurological signs was correlated with various parameters of vitamin E deficiency, including low serum alpha-tocopherol levels and a low tocopherol/total lipid ratio which was present in 92 per cent of subjects. There was good concordance between vitamin E levels and vitamin E to serum lipid ratio in assessing vitamin E deficiency. We conclude that vitamin E deficiency is prevalent, to a hitherto unsuspected degree, in children with PEM and that these malnourished children have significant neurological deficits attributable to low vitamin E levels. This observation is of clinical significance as the neurological deficits are potentially reversible with vitamin E supplementation.