Why does kwashiorkor affect mostly children?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the reasons why kwashiorkor predominantly affects children rather than adults, particularly in contexts where starchy foods are available but protein intake is deficient. The conversation touches on various factors contributing to this phenomenon, including nutritional aspects and physiological differences between children and adults.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that kwashiorkor often appears around the time of weaning, which may relate to a rapid decrease in protein intake.
  • One participant proposes that adults may have greater muscle mass to draw upon during protein deficiencies, potentially influencing the prevalence of kwashiorkor in children.
  • There is a discussion about the relationship between kwashiorkor and celiac disease, particularly regarding long-term implications for children who have healed from intestinal damage.
  • Another participant notes that kwashiorkor is characterized by a severe lack of protein while energy intake remains adequate, contrasting it with marasmus, which involves both protein and energy deficiencies.
  • Some argue that adults are more resistant to protein deficiency due to their increased energy reserves and lack of growth demands.
  • A personal account is shared regarding the symptoms of celiac disease, likening them to those of kwashiorkor, and mentioning the importance of a gluten-free diet for management.
  • There is curiosity expressed about the apparent increase in kwashiorkor diagnoses in middle-aged individuals, suggesting a need for further exploration of this trend.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various hypotheses regarding the factors influencing the prevalence of kwashiorkor in children versus adults, but no consensus is reached on the primary reasons or mechanisms involved. Multiple competing views remain regarding the physiological and nutritional aspects of the disorder.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of kwashiorkor and its relationship with other conditions like celiac disease, but lacks clarity on specific mechanisms and definitions, leaving some assumptions and conditions unresolved.

cooley
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Why does kwashiorkor affect mostly children and not as many adults in areas with starchy foods and protein deficiency?
 
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I found an article on protein-energy malnutrition (which includes kwashiorkor) that might give some insight:
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic797.htm

It seems this disorder often appears around the time of weaning, which would relate to a quick reduction in protein intake, but it looks like there are many factors considered.
 
Thank you for your reply. I do have this article already printed out. Could an adults' greater muscle mass to draw upon in times of protein deficiencies be a factor? My thoughts are directed toward the damage done in a child with undiagnosed celiac and what the long term implications could be for the gluten free compliant child after the intestinal damage has healed. I'm also wondering if there is any correlation between the maladaptive response to starvation with kwashiorkor and the distended abdomen in some celiac patients.
 
Math Is Hard said:
It seems this disorder often appears around the time of weaning, which would relate to a quick reduction in protein intake, but it looks like there are many factors considered.

That is marasmus (severe lack of protein AND energy) that occurs before age of 1 and occurs around the time of weaning...

Kwashiorkor is only severe lack of protein... The energy intake is adequate... You tend to get this ~10 years old..

You can get kwashior-masrasmus... The distinction isn't always clear... The symptoms for both are different...

Adults don't need as much energy since they aren't growing and they have increased energy supplies... They are much more resistance to protein deficiency and starvation diseases...

Btw, I was diagnosed with coeliac disease when i was a baby... I had a moon face and a fat belly like in kwashiorkor... It's to do with lack of protein absorption... not enough albumin (blood protein) is produced... Not enough reabsorption of tissue fluid into cappilary and so you get oedema (tissue swelling) - causes moon face and swollen belly... The good news is that as long as you stick to a gluten free diet then there isn't any problems... I can vouch for that...

What I find strange about it is why do so many people 'suddenly' seem to develop it during middle age...
 
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