Metabolism of Albumin and Body Fluid Compartments in Protein Deficiency—an Experimental Study in the Rhesus Monkey

The influence of protein deficiency on the catabolism of serum albumin and body fluid compartments was investigated in a group of Rhesus monkeys tube-fed a protein-deficient diet for 9 weeks. Animals fed similarly an isocaloric diet rich in protein for the same duration served as controls. The data indicate that protein deficiency resulted in a marked reduction in the amount of albumin and its catabolism. The reduction was more marked in the extravascular than in the intravascular albumin pool. In spite of a reduction in the serum albumin there were no significant alterations in plasma volume and extra cellular fluid. These findings suggest that factors other than hypoalbuminemia may be responsible for the edema of protein-calorie malnutrition.