The Excretion of Urocanic Acid and Formimino Glutamic Acid in Megaloblastosis Accompanying Kwashiorkor

1. Children with both kwashiorkor and megaloblastic anemia when first tested excreted urocanic acid in their urine but no formimino glutamic acid (FIGLU).

2. Treatment with a high protein diet eliminated the block in urocanic acid metabolism. Urocanic acid was no longer excreted and the expected abnormal FIGLU appeared in the urine.

3. Treatment with PGA, but not vitamin B₁₂, corrected the second metabolic block. The excretion of FIGLU stopped and the bone marrow became normoblastic.