EFFECT OF VITAMIN A ON CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN NORMAL CHILDREN AND IN CHILDREN WITH PROTEIN-CALORIE MALNUTRITION

Serum cholinesterase activity has been estimated in normal preschool children and children with kwashiorkor on admission and throughout recovery. The mean serum cholinesterase value of normal preschool children was 198 units/ml and of the kwashiorkor patients 53 units/ml. There was a significant increase in the serum cholinesterase activity of the kwashiorkor children throughout recovery. Serum cholinesterase activity of normal children on low dietary intakes of vitamin A increased significantly on giving 10000 IU vitamin A orally. This rise was also observed on increasing the dietary vitamin A from 300 IU to 2500 lU/child/day. The mean red cell cholinesterase activity of 32 normal children was 72 units/ml and of the kwashiorkor children 48 units/ml. The level of red blood cell cholinesterase in children with kwashiorkor increased steadily throughout recovery. Significant rise in the level of red cell cholinesterase activity was observed on giving vitamin A to the children on low vitamin intakes. © 1969.