Utilization of prealbumin as a nutritional parameter.

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.