Protein Deficiency and Pregnancy Anaemias'

Protein deficiency was reported to cause normocytic normochromic anaemia in rhesus monkeys (Sood et al., 1965). Adams et al., (1967) were impressed by the similarity between the anaemia in protein deficient rhesus monkeys and anaemia in kwashiorkor. Ghitis et al., {1963) and Allen & Dean {1965) were also of the opinion that protein deficiency was an important cause of anaemia in kwashiorkor. The role of protein deficiency in the etiology of anaemia has also been studied and discussed by many other workers {Whiple et al., 1940; Cartwright & Wintrobe, 1948; Lucas & Obten, 1954; Woodruff, 1955; Aschkenasy, 1957; Bethard, etl al.; 1958; Waterlow, et al., 1960; Latham & Stare, 1967; Alvarado & Viteri, 1970; Barnes, 1970; Kader & Rahman, 1972; Ara.ya & Tagle, 197'3). Pregnancy anaemias in India were reported to be often associated with marked hypoproteinaemia {Upadhyay, 1971) . Poverty, ignorance and local zymotic factors in India often lead to multiple nutritional deficiencies, including gross protein deficiency. What is the contribution of hypoproteinaemia in the causation of pregnancy anaemias? It is not possible to provide an answer to this question through direct experimentation.