RESUMO
The circulating levels of lutenizing hormone [LH], follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and prolactin [PRL] were estimated in 61 children between 6 and 36 months of age who were suffering from different forms of protein energy malnutrition [PEM], namely kwashiorkor, marasmic kwashiorkor, marasmus and underweight. Eight age matched well nourished children served as controls. LH levels were found to be significantly low in all the three forms of severe PEM. FSH levels did not differ between malnourished and wellnourished children. Circulating PRL levels were significantly raised in all the study children with severe PEM, with no difference among the different forms excluding a main role of prolactin in the development of nutritional edema. The PRL and LH levels returned to normal with refeeding the prolactin response to arginine HCL infusion was reduced in all forms of severe PEM and returned to normal after nutritional rehabilitation denoting easy reversibility of PRL reserve function with proper nutrition