The main causes of death in malnutrition.

The great killers in the developing countries are the classical contagious diseases and diarrhoea. The high incidence of these diseases is mainly due to the enormously increased exposure to infectious agents in a milieu of incredibly low hygienic standards. Malnutrition on the other hand, is responsible for the long duration and the often malignant course of these diseases.

[Somatomedin and growth hormone in patients with retarded growth and atrophy due to congenital heart disease or malabsorption (author's transl)].

Serum somatomedin activity was found to be very low in cases of growth retardation and malnutrition due to congenital heart disease and to malabsorption, respectively. Growth hormone levels in these cases were slightly elevated. The possible role of low somatomedin activity in the origin of growth retardation due to organic diseases is discussed.

Serum insulin values during oral glucose tolerance test in various age groups.

Serum insulin (IRI) values during the oral glucose tolerance test were studied in 79 infants and children. Conspicuously and significantly lower IRI levels were observed in the age group of half to two years of age, while the highest levels occurred in children aged 6-14 years. The fall in free fatty acid level was more pronounced in the older age groups.