Nutrition

By Mary Ellen Posthauer RDN, CD, LD, FAND

For many years clinicians have relied on serum proteins, such as albumin and pre-albumin, as markers of nutritional status. However, current research indicates that there is little data to support this practice. Albumin and pre-albumin (transthyretin) are acute phase proteins. The advent of the inflammatory process - including infection, trauma, surgery, burns, and other wounds - elicits the acute phase response. During this acute phase response, these proteins decline and are called negative acute phase reactants.

By Aletha Tippett, MD

In my work as a wound physician, most of the patients I treat have diabetes because of this, much of my time is spent working with these patients to manage their diabetes.