Serum Tocopherol Levels of Normal Preschool Children and Children with Protein-Calorie Malnutrition in South India ∗

Summary

Serum tocopherol levels of 99 normal children, aged 2-5 years, and of 42 children with kwashiorkor were estimated. Of the 99 children, 57 from an orphanage had an average serum tocopherol value of 649 μ/100 ml whereas 42 children from a day-care creche had an average level of 470 μg/100 ml. The patients with kwashiorkor had an average value of 410 μg/100 ml when admitted to the hospital. The estimated dietary intake of α-tocopherol of the normal preschool children was 4 mg per child per day.