SERUM LIPOIDS IN MALNUTRITION 1

Abstract

In previous studies of the blood lipoids in relation to various disease syndromes most authors have not considered the role which malnutrition in itself may play in determining the amount of these substances. For example, patients with hyperthyroidism usually lose a great deal of weight and may develop an extreme degree of malnutrition. The fall in the cholesterol and fatty acids that frequently occurs may be related to the general effect of the malnutrition and not to any direct action of the thyroid principles on lipoid metab- olism. There is some experimental work on animals which indicates that malnutrition may reduce the level of blood lipoids. In the present paper the relationship between malnutrition and the serum lipoids in patients with a variety of dis- eases is presented. The disease syndromes that are suspected of directly disturbing fat metabolism, and particularly the blood lipoids, have been avoided.