John Wilson is a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher. He is 5'8" tall and weighs 136 pounds. His wife died nine months ago. During a routine visit to the doctor, it was noted that his weight had decreased 21 pounds since his visit a year ago. Mr. Wilson does not have any medical problems, though he does report feeling depressed and lonely. The physician ordered a panel of lab tests including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and albumin, which all were low. A healthy BMI for a man his height is 24.
Mr. Wilson's low albumin level may indicate a depletion of:

Question

John Wilson is a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher. He is 5'8" tall and weighs 136 pounds. His wife died nine months ago. During a routine visit to the doctor, it was noted that his weight had decreased 21 pounds since his visit a year ago. Mr. Wilson does not have any medical problems, though he does report feeling depressed and lonely. The physician ordered a panel of lab tests including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and albumin, which all were low.  A healthy BMI for a man his height is 24.
Mr. Wilson's low albumin level may indicate a depletion of:

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Albumin is a protein that is synthesized by the liver and is responsible for regulating the movement of fluids in the body. Low levels of albumin can indicate a depletion of total protein in the body. This can be caused by a variety of factors including malnutrition, chronic liver disease, and kidney disease. Given Mr. Wilson's low weight and depression, it is possible that he is not eating a well-balanced diet with enough protein, leading to malnutrition and decreased albumin levels.

John Wilson Is a 74-Year-Old Retired Schoolteacher