EFFECT OF PROTEIN MALNUTRITION ON THE WEIGHT AND SERUM ALBUMIN OF ALBINO RATS

Authors

  • Muhammad Imran Qureshi
  • Zaheeruddin Qureshi

Abstract

Background: Protein Malnutrition is one of the major mortality factors in the children of Pakistan. Not only do the children sufferfrom infections (because of low resistance secondary to malnutrition), but they also lose weight significantly. The two spectra ofthe diseases are Kwashiorkor and Marasmus. We conducted this study on laboratory' animals to assess the weight change andcorrelated it with the extent of malnutrition by studying and estimating the serum albumin levels as well. Methods: 40 male albinorats of 2 weeks’ age were used for the experiment. They were divided into Control and Experimental groups containing equalnumber of animals. The experimental group was subjected to protein malnutrition for 3 to 6 weeks. They were killed with thepaired control animals. The parameters of the two groups were compared for statistical analysis. Results: The results showedsignificant change in the weights of the experimental animals right from the first week of malnutrition while the change in serumalbumin level became significant after prolonged malnutrition. Conclusion: Protein malnutrition is reflected from the decrease inthe serum albumin levels of the animals and their weights are also decreased significantly.

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