Category: Nutritional assessment

The protein efficiency ratio (PER) is a historical method for evaluating a protein's nutritional quality, based on how effectively it supports growth in test subjects. While it was once a standard for nutritional labeling, particularly in the U.S. and Canada, its use has been largely superseded by more advanced methods. This bioassay involves feeding a specific protein to a test animal, typically a rat, and then comparing the animal’s weight gain to its protein consumption over a defined period.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is an imbalance in a person's intake of nutrients and energy, which can involve both undernutrition and overnutrition. In a community setting, nurses employ a holistic approach to evaluate a patient's diet and health, identifying nutritional issues and associated risk factors. This comprehensive assessment is crucial for designing effective interventions and improving patient outcomes.

According to ResearchGate, the ABCDE approach provides a concise and systematic way for healthcare professionals to assess nutrition. The detailed investigation using the ABCDE steps used in assessing nutritional status helps identify and quantify malnutrition in individuals and communities.

The prevalence of malnutrition among institutionalized elderly can be as high as 37%. Identifying at-risk patients is critical for their health and well-being, making the choice of an accurate and efficient screening tool paramount for geriatric care facilities. This article details the most commonly used tool for this purpose.

According to a 2024 study published on PubMed Central, Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) is highly correlated with Body Mass Index (BMI) and offers several advantages, such as ease of measurement, for assessing adult nutritional status. This confirms that is MUAC used in adults and its application goes far beyond the pediatric populations where it is traditionally recognized.

It is estimated that between 20% and 50% of hospital patients are either malnourished upon admission or are at high risk of developing malnutrition during their stay. The purpose of identifying nutritional risks is to identify patients at risk of malnutrition as soon as possible, enabling timely intervention that can dramatically improve clinical outcomes and shorten hospital stays.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anthropometric measurements are widely used to assess nutritional status and health in both individuals and populations. But what are anthropometric measurements in nutritional assessment, and why are they so crucial for evaluating human health?

Initially developed in 1980 to evaluate nutritional conditions and surgical risk in gastrointestinal surgery, the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has since proven to be a valuable tool in various clinical settings. This simple biomarker reflects a patient’s nutritional and immune status, both of which are critical determinants of health and recovery.

According to the World Health Organization, carrying excess fat around the waist significantly increases the risk of serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Measuring abdominal girth in nutritional assessment is a simple yet powerful technique for evaluating the distribution of this body fat and identifying potential health risks.

According to health experts, measuring waist circumference is a simple and effective check for assessing visceral fat, the internal fat surrounding your organs. Understanding what role does waist circumference play in nutritional assessment is vital for identifying increased risks for cardiometabolic diseases, even in individuals with a normal BMI.