Supplementary vitamin E, selenium, cysteine and riboflavin for preventing kwashiorkor in preschool children in developing countries.

Protein Energy Malnutrition is an important cause of child morbidity and mortality in middle- and low-income countries. It has been suggested that excessive free radical activity may be responsible for the clinical manifestation of kwashiorkor. Antioxidants may be able to curb excessive free radical activity and prevent the development of kwashiorkor in susceptible children.