Assessment of some biochemical parameters related to protein-calorie nutrition in children.

A cross-sectional nutrition survey was conducted in five different rural areas of Kenya. Plasma protein and plasma albumin levels, plasma amino acid ratio, urinary nitrogen: creatinine ratio, urinary inorganic sulfate sulfur: creatinine ratio, and the urinary hydroxy-proline index were determined in children aged 1-15 years. The biochemical results were compared with those from a dietary and anthropometric survey. It was concluded that the amino acid ratio, the urea nitrogen: creatinine ratio and the inorganic sulfate sulfur: creatinine ratio were the most useful biochemical tests to establish differences between communities associated with varying adequacy of protein-calorie intake.