Summary: Decrease In Nutritional Counseling

Words: 698
Pages: 3

20 year-old, female has a scheduled appointment today, at the wellness center for nutritional counseling. Josephine is 5’2” in height and weighs 117 pounds. Based on her height and weight, her BMI (Body Mass Index) calculates at 21.4. What this means is, that Josephine falls at a normal BMI range for her height and weight. In addition, after reviewing and analyzing the client’s lab values, it seems as though some lab results were more decreased than others from the normal range. The following tests that were collected and found decreased in nutritional value were Albumin, Sodium, Iron and Vitamin B12. Albumin, “are proteins made in the liver and released into the blood. They are useful for evaluating overall health and nutrition status. …show more content…
Albumin makes up about 2/3 of the total protein in the body and keeps water inside blood vessels” (REFERENCE). Furthermore, having a decreased value result in albumin typically means, “malnutrition, overhydration, liver disease, kidney disease, bone fractures, severe injury, inflammation, infection, Crohn’s disease, heart failure, thyroid dysfunction, slow bleeding, pregnancy, bed rest, certain medications. Globulin: Malnutrition, overhydration”(REFERENCE). In addition, sodium is “an electrolyte necessary for fluid balance and cellular activity. Regulated by kidneys and adrenal glands results reveal a low value as well” (REFERENCE). When sodium levels are low in value, this could develop symptoms of “vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, fluid overload disorders” (REFERENCE), and eventually cause dehydration. On the contrary, iron is a “mineral is necessary for red blood cells and is the basis of hemoglobin. Iron can be lost through the intestinal and urinary tract, and through the menstrual cycle. Lost iron must be replaced in the diet. Iron losses in men and post-menopausal women are very low. All iron blood test results can be altered by alcohol consumption, estrogens, birth control, antibiotics, aspirin, and …show more content…
Nonetheless, vitamin b12 “also known as anti-pernicious anemia factor. Necessary for red blood cell production, tissue repair, DNA synthesis, nervous system development”(REFERENCE). Being deficient in Vitamin B-12 could lead to health complications; such as pernicious anemia, inflammatory bowel disease, tapeworm, hypothyroidism, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, bacterial overgrowth, dietary insufficiency, malabsorption, increased losses, aging, smoking, alcohol use, pregnancy, birth control medications, high supplemental doses of vitamins A and C (REFERENCE). The importance of these lab values results is significant when determining if a client is malnourished. Therefore, living a healthy lifestyle that involves making better food choices and exercising at least three times a week for 30-60 minutes is a huge step towards maintaining making a change in decreasing lab value results. Based on Josephine’s food record three areas that need improvement are portion control, minimizing carbohydrates intake and eating less fats/fried foods. Nutritional recommendations that I would provide Josephine at this time are to incorporate more vegetables and fruits and whole grains