Nutrition Assessment: Biochemical, Physical and Anthropometric Assessments & Energy, Fluid and Protein Requirements Flashcards
Electrolytes of significance
- sodium Na
- Potassium K
- Chloride Cl
- Calcium Ca
- Magnesium Mg
characteristics of Na
- The most abundant cation in the ECF
- A major regulating factor for bodily water balance
- Altered values are likely related to hydration status, e.g dehydration with ↑ [Na], versus total body status
characteristics of Cl
passively follows sodium and water
characteristics of K
- The primary cation in the ICF (inside cells)
- A major regulating factor for muscle and nerve excitability, fluid balance (like Na), protein synthesis, enzymatic reactions, and carbohydrate metabolism
- ↓[K] common in patients with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (hypokalemia)
- Closely monitored in patients with high re-feeding risk
K ranges
- too little <3 mmol/L
- 3.5-5.2 mmol/L
- too much >6 mmol/L and needs treatment
What electrolyte is best for total body status?
potassium
* can see if losing a lot more fluid (such as through diarrhea)
Single Nutrient Serum Levels
Nearly all vitamins and minerals can be measured in serum
* May ↑ or ↓ with certain diseases / conditions – may or may not be valid to measure
* ? If serum levels reflect body stores – best measure we have
Lipid Panel / Lipid Profile
A group o ftests that are often ordered together to determine risk of coronary heart disease and includes:
* Total cholesterol
* Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL or bad cholesterol)
* High Density Lipoprotein (HDL or good cholesterol)
* Triglycerides (TG)
dyslipidemia
A condition marked by abnormal concentrations of lipids or lipoproteins in the blood
Fat soluble vitamins
A,D,E,K
malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins
- in disease that interferes with fat absorption (such as Crohn’s disease and cystic fibrosis)
- in individuals who have had gastric bypass surgery
- short gut surgery
common tests for fat soluble vitamins
A
* serum retinol (not the best)
* serum carotene
D
* D: 25(OH)D → good marker of total body except renal disease and liver disease)
* 1, 25(OH)2D → active form, but not good marker
E:
* α-tocopherol
* α-tocopherol:Cholesterol ratio
K:
* International Normalized Ratio (INR) → delayed prothrombin time; K is needed for hydroxylation of the coagulation cascade
* Protein Induced Vitamin K Absence (PIVKA) Integrated → how much you ate
Nutrient Deficiency in Nutrition Assessment
Features of a physical assessment
examine for clinical signs and symptoms reflecting malnutrition
* physical signs do not usually appear until deficiency level is severe
* physical signs are often non specific
Where might there be concern for micronutrients?
more specific lab tests should be done
* alcoholism
* dietary assessment shows high risk
* liver failure
* renal failure
* high GI losses
What does physical assessment generally examine for?
- protein deficiences
- energy deficiences - lack of weight gain, lack of protein
what to look for with protein and energy deficiency
Result of ↑ nutrient demands, ↓ intake
* hair - dry, dull, alopecia, very brittle and falling out
* face - drawn in, temporal can feel severe indent
* skin - delayed wound healing, slin breakdown and/or decubitus ulcers
* musculoskeletal - wasting, ↓ strength, sunken clavicle
* Edema - fluid overload
Edema
- may be sign of protein deficiency
- may be a sign of very low activity level → lower body especially if not raising feet
- may indicate poor renal function (chronic or acute)
- can contribute to skin breakdown →gets stretched and see shiny skin
What is best treatment for peripheral edema?
tensor stockings to push blood volume back up
* elderly sometimes given medication but doesnt typically work
Ascites
The liver stops making albumin which is the main protein to draw fluid from tissue and so fluid collects within spaces in the abdomen. The tummy gets hard and makes an echo sound
* So if someone has problem of big belly maybe liver problem
* Babies can get so big and push up to lungs and make hard to breath
* Can develop at varying degrees; in babies in 8-12 weeks sometimes with malnutrition, can take over a year with adults with malnutrition; very serious if developers within a few days such as in short gut sometimes
What is included on the SGA?
- weight/ weight change
- dietary intake - subjective so ask about recent intake, changes and types
- gastrointestinal symptoms - many associated with malnutrition
- functional capacity - activities of daily living
- disease state/ comorbidities as related to nutritional needs - any symptoms
- physical exam
anthropometry
Used to determine body size and proportions → height, weight, circumferences
* Some pt cannot stand to be measured → too ill, wheelchair bound, unable to straighten
* If measuring supine should be lying flat/straight, take measurements on both sides
Most important anthro measurement
Body weight → drug therapy often relies on this
* Standing, chair, bed scales available
* take amputations into account (tables available with percentage that limbs typically represent)
* fluid status → edema can affect weight, attempt to determine “dry” weight
How often should weight be taken
Needs to be measured on an ongoing basis → attempt at least weekly measurements
Evaluation of body weight
weight alone gives little information, need to compare measurements to reference values
* Body Mass Index (BMI)
* Ideal Body Weight (IBW)
* % of IBW
* Usual Body Weight (UBW) – % of UBW
BMI pros and cons
pros
* easy to use
* correlates with body fat measures
* not influenced by height
* high correlation with specific diseases
* permits comparison between groups
cons
* not as useful for children, elderly, athletes, pregnancy and lactation
* doesn’t take body comp into consideration → hydration status, fat distribution, muscle mass
BMI
Evaluates weight
* nomogram
* calculation = weight (kg)/height (m)2
Interpretations of BMI
- different values at age 65
- evaluation of obesity
- association with health risks → high blood pressure, CVD, Type 2 diabetes
IBW
m2 x ideal BMI calculation → healthy weight range is broad
* Age 19 - 65 year: BMI 20-25
* Age ≥ 65 year: BMI 22-29 (controversial cut-off; many suggest 27). In this course we will use 27.
* In clinical populations may have slightly different ranges
18.5-24.9 used in healthy population
% IBW