Among patients who require nutritional resuscitation in an intensive care unit, the best evidence that nutritional support is adequate is
The serum albumin level provides a rough estimate of protein nutritional adequacy. The accuracy of this estimate is affected by the long half-life of albumin (3 week) and vagaries of hemodilution. The acute-phase serum proteins have a very short half-life (hours) and may also provide good short-term indications of nutritional status. Transferrin is one of these acute-phase proteins, but unfortunately its levels too are influenced by changes in intravascular volume and, along with the other acute-phase reactants, rise nonspecifically during acute illness. All the listed responses provide some useful information about nutrition and adequacy of replacement.
Urinary nitrogen excretion levels
Total serum protein level
Serum albumin level
Serum transferrin levels
Fluid & Electrolyte