The relative roles of protein and energy deficiency in the pathogenesis of protein-energy malnutrition.

This paper discusses two hypotheses to explain why in some circumstances kwashiorkor develops and in others marasmus. Dietary endocrine and biochemical data from Uganda and The Gambia are compared and their roles in the aetiology of the two different forms of protein-energy malnutrition are discussed. It is concluded that there can be both a dietary and a metabolic differentiating factor, and which is predominant depends on individual environmental circumstances.