CLINICAL NUTRITION

Lesson 2: Protein calorie malnutrition

Diagnosis of nutritional deficiency

Diagnosis can be done in three ways

• General evidence of deficiency in terms of inadequate diet, defective absorption and increased utilization is very important
• Specific evidence of deficiency includes laboratory tests and clinical tests for specific deficiency.
• Cause of condition: This can be based as from evidence from animals or from human beings.
• Treatment: This is an important step to cure nutritional deficiencies. Primary step is the identification of specific nutritional deficiencies followed by identification of underlying conditions. Treatment of underlying conditions along with dietary modification is very important. Supplementation as required for specific conditions should be provided.