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Nutritional assessment and support during infection
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|September 1, 1977
Summary
Protein malnutrition significantly increases infection risks. Nutritional assessment using anthropometrics and urine tests helps manage protein intake (1.5-2.0 g/kg/day) for infected adults to improve outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Nutrition
- Infectious Disease Management
- Metabolic Response to Injury
Background:
- Protein malnutrition is a major factor in infection-related morbidity and mortality.
- Accurate nutritional assessment is crucial for managing infected patients with varying degrees of depletion and hypermetabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline methods for assessing nutritional status in infected patients.
- To determine optimal protein intake recommendations for infected adults.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing simple anthropometrics and 24-hour urine collections.
- Performing routine biochemical analyses.
- Measuring urinary nitrogen and creatinine excretion for lean body mass and malnutrition progression estimates.
Main Results:
- 24-hour urinary nitrogen excretion on a protein-free diet aids assessment.
- Urinary creatinine provides lean body mass estimates.
- Optimal protein intake for positive nitrogen balance in infected adults is 1.5 to 2.0 g/kg/day.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the metabolic response to infection is vital for nutritional support planning.
- Infection increases protein catabolism and energy expenditure, decreasing protein reutilization.
- Nutritional support goals depend on infection phase, depletion severity, and hypermetabolism.