Measurements of serum albumin level are used to determine
a. immune function.
b. visceral protein status.
c. somatic protein status.
d. adequacy of protein intake.
B
Serum albumin level is a good index of visceral protein status. It is not a good indicator of im-mune function, although values do tend to decrease during infection. Somatic protein status is assessed using measurements that estimate muscle size. Serum albumin level does decrease if protein intake is inadequate over long periods, but it does not demonstrate day to day adequacy of protein intake. Also, protein intake may be reasonable, but a patient may have low serum al-bumin if they have unusually high protein needs, for example due to burns or infection.
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