Lesson 5 : Biochemical Assessment of Nutritional Status
Biophysical or Radiological Measurements
These tests are used in specific studies, where additional information regarding change in the bone or muscular performance is required. Radiological methods have been used in studying the change of bones in rickets, ostemalacia, osteoporosis and scurvy.
When clinical examination suggests radiographic examination, the following is done.
In active rickets there is widened concave(cupped) rarified, frayed distal end of long bones usually the radius and ulna.
In rickets, there is healed concave line of increase density at distal ends of long bones usually the radius and ulna.
In infantile scurvy there is ground glass appearance of long bone with loss of density.
In beri beri there is increased cardiac size as visible through rays.
Changes in bone also occur in advanced florosis.
These give more accurate information. The results can be used as a supporting data to other methods.
Equipment required for these tests is expensive and technical knowledge is required in interpreting data. It is difficult to transport the equipment to interior parts of any village.
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