Authors : Gauffin Cano Paola and Chaila Zulema
Abstract: Human or animal organisms respond against nutrients deficiency with a series of adaptive mechanisms in order to conserve the tissues. When mal-nutrition is mild, alterations are minimal and signs and symptoms are sub-clinic. The aims of this study were to establish a protein-energy mal-nutrition model and to characterize the early biochemical and hematological alterations related with the age and the sex. Swiss males and females mice of 3 weeks (weaned) and of 9 weeks (adults) were mal-nourished by restriction of balanced diet for 12 days. At 0, 4, 8 and 12 days of this mal-nutrition period we determined: daily body weight; thymus, spleen and liver weights; serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, proteins and albumin; and hematological assays. white and red blood cells, hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentration. The mal-nutrition diet induced a lost of 10-25 % of body weight compared to well-nourished control, reaching a mild mal-nutrition condition. The thymus and spleen weights decreased by mal-nutrition diet and the liver weight did not suffer modification. In all the experimental groups we observed a significant descent of serum glucose, triglycerides and white blood cells number. The determination of serum parameters like serum glucose and triglyceride, leucocytes number and body weight, allow us to analyze the nutritional status in this experimental model. And it would also allow us to realize an effective and opportune nutritional intervention.
Gauffin Cano Paola and Chaila Zulema , 2005. Characterization of Metabolic Effects of Energy Mal-Nutrition An Experimental Model for `In vivo` Studies in Weaned and Adult Mice . Journal of Food Technology, 3: 196-203.