Treatment of protein malnutrition in children using blends of isolated vegetable proteins, casein and skim milk powder.

The foodstuffs which have been extensively used in the treatment of protein malnutrition
in children are skim milk powder and caseinl. In view of the shortage in the supply
of the above foods in several economically underdeveloped countries, investigations have
been carried out by several workers on the use of protein-rich foods of vegetable origin,
e.g., oilseed meals and pulses in the treatment of kwashiorkor. Soyabean and mixtures
of Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum), low-fat groundnut flour, skim milk powder and sesame
and cottonseed meals have been found to be effective in the treatment of mild and moderately
severe cases of protein malnutrition, while severe cases have still to be treated with blends
of skim milk powder and calcium caseinate"
Protein-rich foods of vegetable origin have the following disadvantages as compared
with skim milk powder for use in the treatment of severe cases of protein
malnutrition: (1) they contain indigestible carbohydrates which may swell and interfere
in the digestion and absorption of proteins and (2) many of them contain odoriferous
and bitter principles, which affect their palatability. These difficulties, however, can
be overcome by the use of proteins isolated from oilseed meals and pulses. Isolated
proteins are 2 to 4 times as concentrated as the protein source and possess a bland taste. As
such they can be readily blended with skim milk powder or casein and used for the treatment
of kwashiorkor. A preliminary account of the results of treatment of a small number
(eight) of cases of kwashiorkor using blends of isolated vegetable proteins, casein and skim
milk powder is given here.