Understanding the Prealbumin Test for Malnutrition: A Modern Medical Perspective
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4 min read
Historically, serum prealbumin was used to evaluate a patient's nutritional status, primarily due to its short half-life suggesting it could indicate recent protein intake. However, medical consensus has shifted, and experts now recognize that the prealbumin test for malnutrition is a flawed indicator, largely because its levels are significantly influenced by inflammation and other non-nutritional factors.
