Which individual is in negative nitrogen balance Quizlet?

November 18, 2025 •

3 min read

According to extensive medical literature, a negative nitrogen balance indicates that the body is breaking down more protein than it synthesizes, a state known as catabolism. Answering the question, "Which individual is in negative nitrogen balance Quizlet?", requires understanding the specific physiological conditions where nitrogen excretion exceeds intake, such as severe illness, burns, or starvation.

Quick Summary

Negative nitrogen balance indicates protein breakdown exceeds synthesis, occurring in individuals facing starvation, critical illness, severe burns, or inadequate protein intake.

Key Points

Catabolic State: A negative nitrogen balance occurs when the body breaks down more protein than it builds, entering a catabolic state.
Causes of Catabolism: Individuals in negative balance include those experiencing starvation, severe burns, critical illness, severe infections, or wasting diseases.
Clinical Indicator: In medical practice, it serves as a key indicator of nutritional deficiency or severe metabolic stress, prompting dietary intervention.
Adverse Outcomes: The sustained breakdown of protein can lead to severe health issues like muscle wasting, compromised immune function, and delayed healing.
Correction Strategy: Reversing a negative balance involves providing adequate protein and calories, often managed through targeted nutritional support in a clinical setting.

What is Nitrogen Balance?

Nitrogen balance is a key concept in nutritional science that measures the difference between nitrogen intake and nitrogen excretion in the body. Since protein is the only macronutrient containing nitrogen, nitrogen balance serves as a reliable indicator of overall protein metabolism. This metabolic state can fall into three categories: positive, negative, or equilibrium.

Positive nitrogen balance: Occurs when nitrogen intake exceeds nitrogen excretion. This signifies an anabolic state, meaning the body is building or repairing tissues. It is typical in growing children, pregnant women, and individuals recovering from injury or illness.
Nitrogen equilibrium (zero balance): A state where nitrogen intake equals nitrogen excretion. This is characteristic of healthy adults maintaining their body composition over time.
Negative nitrogen balance: This is the catabolic state where the body excretes more nitrogen than it consumes. It indicates that the body is breaking down its own protein stores, like muscle tissue, to meet energy and amino acid needs.

Conditions That Cause Negative Nitrogen Balance

Several physiological states can lead to a negative nitrogen balance. These include starvation, severe trauma or burns, severe infections or fever, critically ill patients, people with wasting diseases like cancer or hyperthyroidism, individuals on very low-calorie diets, and patients with malabsorption syndromes.

The Health Consequences of Prolonged Catabolism

Sustained negative nitrogen balance has significant health consequences. The continuous breakdown of tissue directly affects physiological function, potentially leading to muscle wasting, impaired immune function, delayed wound healing, and edema.

Counteracting a Negative Nitrogen Balance

Correcting this catabolic state is a priority, typically managed medically by increasing protein intake and addressing the underlying cause. Methods include providing adequate protein and caloric intake, using nutritional support like total parenteral nutrition (TPN), treating the root cause, and ensuring sufficient rest.

A Comparison of Nitrogen Balance States


Feature	Positive Nitrogen Balance	Nitrogen Equilibrium	Negative Nitrogen Balance
Protein Synthesis vs. Degradation	Synthesis > Degradation (Anabolic)	Synthesis = Degradation	Degradation > Synthesis (Catabolic)
Nitrogen Intake vs. Excretion	Intake > Excretion	Intake = Excretion	Excretion > Intake
Typical Individuals	Growing children, pregnant women, recovering patients, bodybuilders	Healthy adults	Starving individuals, critically ill patients, burn victims, people with wasting diseases
Body Changes	Tissue growth, muscle gain, tissue repair	Maintenance of body mass	Muscle wasting, weight loss, protein loss
Primary Goal for Correction	Continued growth and recovery	Maintaining current state	Reversing catabolism, promoting protein synthesis

Conclusion

To answer the query "Which individual is in negative nitrogen balance Quizlet?", the list includes those facing physiological stress, nutritional deprivation, or severe illness. Whether starving, suffering severe burns, or battling a critical infection, these individuals share a state where protein breakdown exceeds synthesis – a crucial clinical indicator of nutritional health. Addressing a negative nitrogen balance is vital for recovery and health stabilization, as prolonged catabolism can lead to serious complications. For further details on protein metabolism, refer to the in-depth overview on {Link: ScienceDirect https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/nitrogen-balance}.

What is negative nitrogen balance associated with?

Heading: Associated Conditions. Concise takeaway: It is associated with states of catabolism, such as starvation, serious injuries (including burns), fever, hyperthyroidism, and wasting diseases.

Heading: Protein Turnover. Concise takeaway: Negative balance indicates that the rate of protein breakdown exceeds the rate of protein synthesis in the body.

Heading: Clinical Relevance. Concise takeaway: In clinical settings, negative nitrogen balance is a marker of malnutrition and high metabolic stress, especially in critically ill patients.

Heading: Dietary Impact. Concise takeaway: Insufficient dietary protein, particularly a lack of essential amino acids, can lead to negative nitrogen balance.

Heading: Consequences. Concise takeaway: Prolonged negative balance can result in muscle wasting, impaired immune function, and delayed wound healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary indicator is that nitrogen excretion (primarily through urine) is greater than nitrogen intake (from dietary protein) over a period of time.

Quizlet flashcards often cite conditions like starvation, severe illness (such as burns, injuries, or infections), and fever as major causes of negative nitrogen balance.

Negative nitrogen balance leads to muscle wasting because the body breaks down its own muscle tissue to obtain amino acids for energy and other vital functions.

Yes, a prolonged negative nitrogen balance is dangerous as it can lead to decreased immune function, edema, anemia, and increased susceptibility to infection.

Individuals who are growing (infants, children), pregnant women, and people recovering from surgery or malnutrition are typically in positive nitrogen balance.

A dietitian will focus on providing adequate calories and high-quality protein through increased dietary intake or nutritional support, such as TPN, to reverse the catabolic state.

Nitrogen balance serves as an index of protein metabolism because nitrogen is a core component of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. The balance reflects whether the body is in a net state of protein synthesis or breakdown.