Nitrogen Retention in a Child During Undernutrition

Abstract

Summary

An obese child, who was sharply underfed for 85 consecutive days, retained a large amount of nitrogen while losing 8 kg. of body weight Although there was a significant and constant retention of nitrogen during the period of most severe undernutrition, the retention of nitrogen gradually increased as the calorific value of the diet approached maintenance. Increasing the nitrogen of the diet did not increase the retention of nitrogen while the subject was being severely underfed.