Lipoprotein lipase activity in marasmic type of protein-calorie malnutrition.

Kwashiorkor and marasmus constitute the two major syndromes of protein-calorie malnutrition encountered in infants and young children in many parts of the world. The clinical and metabolic characteristics of these syndromes differ significantly from one another, one difference being the fat metabolism. The increase of free fatty acids (FFA) in plasma has been accepted as the key factor causing fatty liver in kwashiorkor (Korn, 1955; Feigelson et al., 1961; Lewis et al., 1964; Fletcher, 1966; Bar-on and Stein, 1968). The role of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the mobilization of FFA is well known. In this paper, plasma FFA and LPL levels, as well as the effect of heparin on the activation of this enzyme and its kinetics in plasma in various stages of marasmus will be presented.