Thesis Abstract

<p> Assessment of the relationship between some trace elements and antioxidant enzymes was carried out on 98 under-five children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and 98 age- and sex-matched apparently healthy children (control). The malnourished children involve those with Marasmus, Kwashiorkor and Marasmic-kwashiorkor. Venous blood (2ml) was collected from both PEM children and control for biochemical analysis using standard methods. Results obtained show that mean serum total protein (55.76±3.95) and albumin (26.43±2.78) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (1.87±0.32) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (42.38±5.03) activities in malnourished children were significantly lower. <br></p>

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p><strong>1.1 Background of the Study</strong></p><p>Severe malnutrition is common among developing countries both in rural and urban areas <strong>(</strong>Psaki <em>et al., </em>2012)<strong>.</strong>It is responsible for at least half of the 7.6 million child‟sdeaths each year indeveloping countries (Park <em>et al.,</em>&nbsp;2012). Children who are poorly nourished suffer up to 160 days of illness each year <strong>(</strong>UNICEF, 2008). Malnutrition magnifies the effects of every disease, including measles and malaria. The estimated proportions of deaths in which malnutrition is an underlying cause are diarrhoea (61%), malaria (57%), pneumonia (52%) and measles (45%) (Black <em>et al.,</em>&nbsp;2003). Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is one of the most prevalent and devastating forms of malnutrition in the world (Whitney and Rolfes, 2008).</p> <br><p></p>