Which biomarker is monitored to assess the nutritional status of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?

Monitoring albumin levels is crucial in assessing the nutritional status of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) because albumin is a protein that reflects the body’s nutritional health and protein status. Low levels of albumin can indicate malnutrition, inflammation, or the presence of kidney disease, as kidneys are involved in protein metabolism and maintenance of serum protein levels.

In patients with CKD, maintaining adequate nutrition is important for managing the disease and improving outcomes. Albumin serves as a key marker because it is sensitive to dietary intake and reflects the body's ability to synthesize proteins. Additionally, albumin levels can provide insights into the effectiveness of dietary interventions or dialysis treatment being provided to the patient.

While creatinine, urea, and electrolytes are important markers in the management of CKD, they do not offer the same direct insights into nutritional status as albumin does. Creatinine and urea primarily reflect kidney function and nitrogen balance, while electrolytes aid in monitoring the metabolic balance but do not directly indicate nutritional health.