The influence of malnutrition on the postprandial metabolic rate and respiratory quotient

ABSTRACT

Pre- and post-prandial metabolic rates were measured in twelve malnourished Jamaican infants. On admission to hospital, minimal increases in postprandial metabolic rate were found, whereas during the recovery phase when growth was rapid, increases in postprandial metabolic rate of up to 38 percent occurred. After recovery only the five children who were still gaining weight at a rate of more than 4 g/kg body-weight.d continued to show a substantial increase in postprandial metabolism. A highly significant correlation was found between growth rate and the increase in postprandial metabolic rate. Marked differences existed in the respiratory quotient measured 4h after the last meal, the values being low on admission and high during the phase of rapid growth. After a test meal, the respiratory quotient rose sharply both in newly admitted and in recovered children, but fell slightly when the children were studied during the phase of rapid growth. (AU)