Enzyme Deficiency Responsible for Some Sudden Death Cases, August 30, 1999, Pediatric and Developmental Pathology/MedscapeWire http://pediatrics.medscape.com/11592.rhtml A deficiency in the SCHAD short-chain L-3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase enzyme is responsible for some infant deaths attributed to (SIDS). The deficiency occurs during the breakdown of fatty acids derived from fat stores in the body. The body uses these fats as an energy source when its normal energy supply of glucose, which is converted into glycogen, is used up. In the event of fasting, infants tend to exhaust their limited glycogen supply quickly and begin using the stored fat, said Dr. Michael J. Bennett, a professor of pathology and pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center and director of clinicalchemistry at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. <snip> "In these infants, fat can get into the liver, but it can't be metabolized and released," ... "Hence infants' brains starve from the deficit of ketones, and they become comatose." <snip> Based on their results so far, the researchers advocate avoiding any circumstances that would induce a fast in an infant. When an infant ingests fewer calories than normally consumed, the liver will not produce the needed ketones, and glucose will be used up too quickly, precipitating a potentially fatal coma. <snip>The full findings were published in the July/August issue of Pediatric and Developmental Pathology. Laurie Wheeler, RN, MN, IBCLC Violet Louisiana, s.e.USA ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html