Question

1. The mother of a 17 year old girl brings her daughter to the doctor after she experiences a number of fainting spells and lethargy. The mother states that her daughter eats practically nothing and is obsessed with exercise and losing weight. Her daughter states that she feels fat if she eats more. The girl is 5’6” and weighs 90 pounds. Physical examination shows loose skin folds and an abnormally low percentage of body fat.

A. Explain why she has an abnormally low percentage of body fat. What 3 tests would you recommend to confirm this and what results are you expecting from these tests? Explain why you expect these results.

B. What would you predict her nitrogen balance test will show? Explain why you expect this finding.

C. What vitamin supplements would you recommend that she take? Consider all the pathways that are active in her current state. List these pathways and the cofactors and the corresponding vitamins needed by the enzymes in each of these pathways.

Answer 1

A. She has an abnormally low percentage of body fat because she is not taking enough fat in her diet. Deficiencies of fat soluble vitamin in the body like vitamin A, D, E and K. For a girl, at least 10 to 13 percent body fat is required. Three test that I would recommend are: lipid profile test, thyroid test, vitamin test. I am expecting from the test that, exact cause of the loss of fat from her body as she is has an abnormally low percentage of body fat.

B. I would expect nitrogen balance test to be normal because it is used to measure to protein level in the body. Yes, I would expect that the same thing, as she is facing the deficiency of fats not protein

C. Fat soluble vitamin A,D,E,K supplements she should take. The pathways of vitamin A biosynthesis pathway.A. She has an abnormally low percentage of body fat because she is not taking enough fat in her diet. Deficiencies of fat soluble vitamin in the body like vitamin A, D, E and K. For a girl, at least 10 to 13 percent body fat is required. Three test that I would recommend are: lipid profile test, thyroid test, vitamin test. I am expecting from the test that, exact cause of the loss of fat from her body as she is has an abnormally low percentage of body fat.

B. I would expect nitrogen balance test to be normal because it is used to measure to protein level in the body. Yes, I would expect that the same thing, as she is facing the deficiency of fats not protein

C. Fat soluble vitamin A,D,E,K supplements she should take. The pathways of vitamin A biosynthesis pathway.