RESUMO
Twenty-eight malnourished children were studied on admission to hospital and during therapy and recovery. Measurements of total body potassium, body fluid compartments and 24-hr urinary creatinine were made. Total body potassium was low in almost all malnourished children, but was lower in those children with clinical oedema. There was a significant decrease in concentration of potassium in intracellular water in malnutrition. The concentration of intracellular potassium was linearly correlated with the total body potassium. Total body water was increased initially and fell with recovery. This increase was borne by the extracellular fluid. The increase in extracellular fluid was correlated with the reduction in total body potassium as well as with the weight deficit. Total body potassium was linearly related to the 24-hr urinary creatinine. Calculations of the contribution of muscle potassium to total body potassium from the creatinine data lead to the conclusion that in children recovering from malnutrition, alterations in muscle protein turnover alter the figures usually given for the relationship of urinary creatinine to muscle mass. The relationships between total body potassium, body weight and height are presented. Height bore a stronger relationship to the total body potassium than did the cube of the height (AU)
