Nutritional assessment

Abstract

In the past year, many studies demonstrated the reliability of nutritional indicators in predicting clinical outcome. However, use of nutritional indicators in assessing nutritional status in hospitalized patients has been questioned, because many indicators are affected by clinical events unrelated to nutrient intake and may not change despite aggressive nutritional therapy. Studies evaluating the effect of nutritional therapy on nutritional indicators and clinical outcome are reviewed. New contributions in assessing nutritional status are also presented.