Measurement of some blood proteins of children as an index of Nutritional Status

Serum total proteins and albumin of 83 Ghanaian children whose ages ranged from less than one year to thirteen years were measured using the biuret and bromocresol green dye binding methods respectively. The globulin levels were obtained by difference. The range obtained for total protein was 54.7-87.9 g/l, that of albumin was 33.2-56.4 g/l and globulin, 14.3-37.7 g/l. Using albumin level as a predictor of malnutrition, none of the experimental subjects was overtly malnourished. Cognisance was taken of the variation of protein levels with age, sex and other factors. JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 1 Number 1, July (1998) pp. 84-9