Protein–energy malnutrition
| Protein–energy undernutrition | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Protein–calorie undernutrition, PEU, PCU, PEM, PCM |
| Child in the United States in 1970 with signs of kwashiorkor, an example of protein-energy undernutrition. | |
| Specialty | Endocrinology |
Protein–energy undernutrition (PEU), once called protein–energy malnutrition (PEM), is a form of malnutrition that is defined as a range of conditions arising from coincident lack of dietary protein and/or energy (calories) in varying proportions. The condition has mild, moderate, and severe degrees.
Types include:[1]
- Kwashiorkor (protein malnutrition predominant)
- Marasmus (deficiency in calorie intake)
- Marasmic kwashiorkor (marked protein deficiency and marked calorie insufficiency signs present, sometimes referred to as the most severe form of malnutrition)
PEU is fairly common worldwide in both children and adults and accounts for about 250,000 deaths annually.[2] In the industrialized world, PEM is predominantly seen in hospitals, is associated with disease, or is often found in the elderly.[3]
Note that PEU may be secondary to other conditions such as chronic renal disease[4] or cancer cachexia[5] in which protein energy wasting (PEW) may occur.
Protein–energy undernutrition affects children the most because they have less protein intake. The few rare cases found in the developed world are almost entirely found in small children as a result of fad diets, or ignorance of the nutritional needs of children, particularly in cases of milk allergy.[6]
- ^ Franco, V.; Hotta, JK; Jorge, SM; Dos Santos, JE (1999). "Plasma fatty acids in children with grade III protein–energy malnutrition in its different clinical forms: Marasmus, marasmic kwashiorkor, and kwashiorkor". Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 45 (2): 71–5. doi:10.1093/tropej/45.2.71. PMID 10341499.
- ^ Deaths from protein-energy malnutrition, by age - Our World in Data
- ^ "Dietary Reference Intake: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements" published by the Institute of Medicine and available online at https://www.nap.edu/read/11537/chapter/14?term=protein-energy+malnutrition#151
- ^ Muscaritoli, Maurizio; Molfino, Alessio; Bollea, Maria Rosa; Fanelli, Filippo Rossi (2009). "Malnutrition and wasting in renal disease". Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 12 (4): 378–83. doi:10.1097/MCO.0b013e32832c7ae1. PMID 19474712. S2CID 32472183.
- ^ Bosaeus, Ingvar (2008). "Nutritional support in multimodal therapy for cancer cachexia". Supportive Care in Cancer. 16 (5): 447–51. doi:10.1007/s00520-007-0388-7. PMID 18196284. S2CID 7078558.
- ^ Liu, T; Howard, RM; Mancini, AJ; Weston, WL; Paller, AS; Drolet, BA; Esterly, NB; Levy, ML; et al. (2001). "Kwashiorkor in the United States: Fad diets, perceived and true milk allergy, and nutritional ignorance". Archives of Dermatology. 137 (5): 630–6. PMID 11346341.