BIOCHEMICAL SIGNS OF ADJUSTMENT IN FOOD TOXIC INFECTION

Objective. To study the nature of biochemical shifts in minimal toxicosis in patients with food toxic infection. Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 61 patients aged 18 to 25 years who were diagnosed as having moderate food toxic infection (FTI) with a prevalence of intoxication syndrome. Results. In the patients with FTI, the intoxication syndrome was accompanied by protein and carbohydrate metabolic disturbances during the course of an inpatient observation. The level of albumin decreased in proportion to the lower blood concentration of protein, but it did not drop below 50% of the total protein content. Hypoproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia was attended by adjustment-induced ALT- and GGT-hyperenzymenia. The rise of ALT levels was indicative of the activated process of gluconeogenesis and that of GGT was suggestive of intensive amino acid uptake at the tissue level. This pattern was particularly clearly seen in patients with a blood protein level of below 60 g/l. By keeping in mind this fact, dietary supplementation of beef broths in mild FTI and incorporation of endogenous albumin in severe FTI in the presence of hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia is pathogenetically warranted and advisable. Conclusion. In the context of the adjustment syndrome (after G. Selye), food toxic infection versus other infectious diseases may be considered as minimal toxicosis with characteristic biochemical shifts.

food toxic infection, adjustment syndrome, fever intoxication syndrome, biochemistry, enzymemia, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemi carbohydrate metabolism, gluconeogenesis, thermogenesis