Endotoxemia in Protein-Energy Malnutrition

Abstract

The plasma endotoxin levels of 16 severely malnourished Thai children were determined by the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Endotoxemia was present in seven children (44%) on admission to the hospital and was associated with the coexistence of vitamin A deficiency. Protein-energy malnutrition is associated with the presence of endotoxemia.