Research
Micronutrients & recovery
Laboratory values (e.g., albumin, prealbumin) are poor standalone indicators of nutritional status due to their sensitivity to inflammation and other non-nutritional factors, and should be interpreted within the clinical context.
Do not use albumin or prealbumin levels alone to diagnose malnutrition, especially in acutely ill or inflamed patients. These markers are influenced by disease state and inflammation. Use them as part of a broader assessment including clinical history, physical exam, and functional measures.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
Laboratory values are mostly delayed and costly, and largely dependent on the analytic method and the analyzing laboratory. Additionally, numerous non-nutrition-related factors may influence the laboratory parameters (e.g., inflammatory markers such as CRP), leading to distorted values. Thus, laboratory values must always be interpreted within the clinical context.
Why this rating
Supported by Table 5 which details the limitations and half-lives of various proteins.
Source
Nutritional Risk Screening and Assessment
Emilie Reber et al. · Journal of Clinical Medicine · 2019
narrative_reviewCited 476×
Read the paper This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →