title: Utilization of prealbumin as a nutritional parameter.
abstract: The response of prealbumin was compared to that of albumin and transferrin in 16 patients following 7 days of metabolic/nutritional support. Baseline values were compared to day 7 results to assess the degree of change. Prealbumin demonstrated a significant increase in the mean serum concentration (13.0 vs 19.6 mg/100 ml) in the presence of a positive nitrogen balance. Transferrin exhibited a similar significant response (168.8 vs 223.7 mg/100 ml). Albumin, body weight, and serum iron concentration did not change significantly during the 7-day period. Prealbumin effectively demonstrated an anabolic response in the study sample and could possibly be used as an early indicator of visceral protein anabolism in patients receiving metabolic/nutritional support.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D002149:Energy Intake; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000032:analysis*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D011228:Prealbumin; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron; D009584:Nitrogen