Which of the following is considered a biochemical indicator of nutritional status?

BTSC Staff Nurse 30July-2025

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 30July-2025

Explanation

Serum ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron, and its primary role is iron storage within the body's cells.
Measuring its concentration requires a laboratory analysis of a blood sample, which defines it as a biochemical test.
It is considered the most sensitive indicator of total body iron stores and is crucial for diagnosing iron deficiency in its early stages.
Unlike physical measurements, it provides a direct look at the body's micronutrient levels.

Option A: Height-for-age is an anthropometric measurement, not a biochemical one. It involves physically measuring a child's height and comparing it to a standardized growth chart.
Option B: Skinfold thickness is an anthropometric measurement used to estimate body fat. It is measured using calipers on various body sites and does not involve a lab test.
Option C: Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is an anthropometric measurement. It is a physical measurement of the arm's circumference used to screen for acute malnutrition, especially in children and emergencies.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of nutritional status indicators as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
In clinical practice, no single indicator is sufficient. A comprehensive nutritional assessment combines Anthropometric, Biochemical, Clinical, and Dietary (ABCD) data for an accurate picture of a patient's status.
Biochemical markers like serum ferritin are critical for early detection. A low ferritin level indicates depleted iron stores, allowing for intervention before the patient develops iron deficiency anemia, which would later be visible in hemoglobin levels and clinical signs like pallor.
What if? If a patient has significant edema (swelling) or ascites (fluid in the abdomen), anthropometric measures like body weight are unreliable. In this scenario, MUAC and biochemical markers like serum albumin become more important for assessing nutritional status.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'biochemical indicator'.
Recall the definition of a biochemical indicator: a value measured from a laboratory test of a body fluid (like blood or urine) or tissue.
Next, analyze each option to determine how it is measured.
Recognize that 'Height-for-age', 'Skinfold thickness', and 'Mid-upper arm circumference' are all physical measurements of the body, classifying them as anthropometric.
Identify 'Serum ferritin levels' as a value obtained from a blood test.
Conclude that serum ferritin is the only biochemical indicator among the choices.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 468-470

E6 Nutrition Monika Sharma 3e p. 303-305