What is a common indicator of protein status that is influenced by inflammation and not solely nutrition intake?

• A. Creatinine clearance.
• B. Hemoglobin.
• C. Albumin.
• D. Prealbumin (transthyretin).

Answer: (C)

Albumin is a visceral protein produced by the liver, commonly used to gauge protein status, but its level is strongly influenced by inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines reduce hepatic albumin synthesis and promote shifts that move fluid and albumin out of the intravascular space, so levels can drop during inflammatory states even if dietary protein intake is adequate. This makes albumin a marker that reflects both nutritional status and inflammatory activity, rather than nutrition alone. Other choices measure different processes or respond differently to inflammation, but albumin best illustrates a protein-status indicator whose level is noticeably affected by inflammation.