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Tryptophan and nutritional status of patients with senile dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

D. E. Thomas ,
K. O. Chung-A-On ,
J. W. T. Dickerson ,
S. F. Tidmarsh  and
D. M. Shaw
D. E. Thomas*
Affiliation:
Biochemical Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Whitchurch Hospital, Whitchurch, Cardiff, Department of Biochemistry, Division of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Surrey, Guildford
K. O. Chung-A-On
Affiliation:
Biochemical Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Whitchurch Hospital, Whitchurch, Cardiff, Department of Biochemistry, Division of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Surrey, Guildford
J. W. T. Dickerson
Affiliation:
Biochemical Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Whitchurch Hospital, Whitchurch, Cardiff, Department of Biochemistry, Division of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Surrey, Guildford
S. F. Tidmarsh
Affiliation:
Biochemical Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Whitchurch Hospital, Whitchurch, Cardiff, Department of Biochemistry, Division of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Surrey, Guildford
D. M. Shaw
Affiliation:
Biochemical Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Whitchurch Hospital, Whitchurch, Cardiff, Department of Biochemistry, Division of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Surrey, Guildford
*
1 Address for correspondence: Mrs D. E. Thomas, St James' Hospital, Locksway Road, Portsmouth PO4 8LD.
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Synopsis

The nutritional status of 23 severely demented patients was compared with that of 23 similarly aged controls in the community. A 3-day weighed intake on all subjects showed lower mean intakes of energy, protein, ascorbic acid and nicotinic acid in the patient group. This group had lower levels of plasma ascorbic acid and red cell folate and of urinary N-methylnicotinamide excretion relative to creatinine. Over a third of both controls and patients had evidence of thiamin deficiency, as judged by a raised percentage erythrocyte transketolase activity. An earlier finding in patients with senile dementia of reduced fasting plasma concentrations of tryptophan was confirmed for total and protein bound fractions. With the possible exception of ascorbic acid, the data could not be explained satisfactorily in terms of intake. It is suggested that the association between the phenomena of ageing, senile dementia and nutritional status merits further investigation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , May 1986 , pp. 297 - 305
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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