ABSTRACT
This chapter assists the reader to interpret nutritional status in apparently-healthy people using acute phase proteins and/or cytokines4 as biomarkers of inflammation. Interpreting nutritional status during infection is more difficult as duration and severity of illness will both influence nutritional biomarkers as indicated by the multiple factors associated with severe anemia in Malawian preschool children. The chapter summarizes what is known of many of the common blood nutrients and nutritional biomarkers during the inflammatory response and the potential effects on nutritional status. Serum nutrients may also be controlled by physiological factors including nutritional status. The sequential production of different inflammatory proteins during the incubation period and following an infection or traumatic episode has been used to provide adjustment factors with which to correct blood nutrient or biomarker concentrations for the influence of inflammation. The chapter addresses the roles of specific vitamins and minerals in the host response to infection.
