Nutrition status reveals the degree to which physiologic nutrient needs are met for an individual. Assessment of nutrition
status is the foundation of nutritional care; it is the important base for personalizing an individual’s nutritional
care in the context of the cause, prevention, or management of disease or promotion of health. Chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and osteoporosis, as well as many gastrointestinal disorders and most cancers, are influenced
by the underlying nutritional status. In addition, an ndividual’s nutritional status affects gene expression and vice versa, with implications for many disorders (see Chapter). In promotion of health, regular assessment can detect a nutritional insufficiency in the early stages, allowing dietary ntake and lifestyle to be improved through nutrition support and counseling before a more severe deficiency and functional change develops.

Detection of subclinical changes in cell processes early in the course of a nutrient deficiency, when cell damage is minor and more reversible, can have a considerable impact on the prevention and treatment of disease.Detection of subclinical changes
in cell processes early in the course of a nutrient deficiency,
when cell damage is minor and more reversible, can have a
considerable impact on the prevention and treatment of disease.
If subclinical deficiency is not corrected by providing
the lacking nutrient, then prolonged marginalization of cellular
activity may not only increase vulnerability to disease,
but it may also exacerbate progression of existing disease and
interfere with effectiveness of treatment, since all drugs
require some level of metabolic support to achieve their
desired therapeutic effects.

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