Table 7.

Objectives of nutritional assessment

Control the catabolic state

Restore sufficient macronutrient intake to meet current energy and protein needs

Increase energy intake to about 50% above daily needs, restore adequate calories to respond to wounding or to begin the process of weight and lean mass gain

Increase protein intake to 2 times the recommended daily allowance (0.8 g/kg/d), ie, to 1.5 g/kg/d to allow for restoration of wound healing and any lost lean body mass

Increase anabolic stimulation to direct the substrate from protein intake into protein synthesis

Avoid replacement of lost lean mass with fat gain

Utilize exercise (mainly resistance exercise) to increase the bodies anabolic drive to maintain and more rapidly regain lean mass

Consider use of exogenous anabolic hormones to increase net protein synthesis