Positive Correlation Between Changes in Serum Albumin Levels and Breakfast Non-Protein Calorie/Nitrogen Ratio in Geriatric Patients

BACKGROUND: Differences in nutrition intake by meal intake time of geriatric patients may affect albumin (Alb) synthesis ability. METHODS: We included 36 geriatric patients (81.7 ± 7.7 years; 20 males and 16 females) as subjects. We calculated their dietary patterns (DPs) by computing intake by breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as by nutrient, for a weight of 1 kg/day for 4 weeks after hospitalization. We confirmed the relationship between “DP with a positive correlation with breakfast protein” and the change rate of albumin (Alb-RC). Then, we performed linear regression analysis to explore factors influencing Alb-RC and compared non-protein calorie/nitrogen ratio (NPC/N) between the upper and lower Alb-RC groups. RESULTS: It was observed that Alb-RC was negatively correlated with “DP with a positive correlation with breakfast protein” (B = -0.055, P = 0.038) and positively correlated with breakfast NPC/N (B = 0.043, P = 0.029). Breakfast NPC/N tended to be higher in the upper group than in the lower group (P = 0.058). CONCLUSION: The study revealed that there was a positive correlation between Alb-RC levels and breakfast NPC/N in geriatric patients at the care mix institution.