Biochemical Changes and Liver Tissue Pathology in Weanling Wistar Albino Rats with Protein-Energy Malnutrition

October 2003 in “ PubMed ”

Maisie Henrietta Etukudo, Oluyemi E. Agbedana, Edidiong Nnamso Akang, B. L. A. Osifo

hair loss kwashiorkor protein-energy malnutrition hypoalbuminaemia free radicals plasma retinol alanine aminotransferase aspartate aminotransferase PEM ALT AST

TLDR Low protein diets cause severe health issues in rats, but high protein diets can reverse these effects.

The study investigated the biochemical changes and liver tissue pathology in 64 weanling male Wistar albino rats with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). The rats were divided into groups receiving high protein chow, high protein maize starch, and low protein maize starch diets. After 4 weeks, the low protein group exhibited growth failure, hair loss, oedema, fatty liver, metabolic acidosis, hypoalbuminaemia, and anaemia, which are characteristic of human kwashiorkor. These symptoms were reversed by switching to a high protein diet. The study suggested that reduced plasma retinol, increased plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, and fatty liver in the low protein group indicated a significant role for free radicals in the aetiopathogenesis of kwashiorkor.

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research Biochemical Changes and Liver Tissue Pathology in Weanling Wistar Albino Rats with Protein-Energy Malnutrition

4 citations , October 2003 in “PubMed”

Low protein diets cause severe health issues in rats, but high protein diets can reverse these effects.