Introduction

Nutritional status of an individual is assessed from following methods:

A) Clinical examinations:

– It utilizes a number of physical signs, (specific & non specific), that are known to

be associated with malnutrition and deficiency of vitamins & micro nutrients.

– General clinical examination, with special attention to organs like hair, angles of the mouth, gums, nails, skin, eyes, tongue, muscles, bones, & thyroid gland

ADVANTAGES

–  Fast & Easy to perform

– Inexpensive

– Non-invasive

LIMITATIONS

– Did not detect early cases

Clinical signs of nutritional deficiency:

1.Hair :

a) Spare & thin : Protein, zinc, biotin deficiency

b) Easy to pull out : Protein deficiency

c) Corkscrew Coiled hair : Vit C & Vit A deficiency

2. Mouth :

a) Glossitis : Riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, B12 deficiency.

b) Bleeding & spongy gums: Vit. C,A, K, folic acid & niacin deficiency.

c) Angular stomatitis, cheilosis & fissured tongue: B 2,6,& niacin deficiency.

d) leukoplakia : Vit.A,B12, B-complex, folic acid & niacin deficiency.

e) Sore mouth & tongue: Vit B12,6,c, niacin ,folic acid & iron deficiency.

3. EYES:

a) Night blindness, exophthalmia : Vitamin A deficiency

b) Photophobia, conjunctival inflammation, blurring: Vit B2 & vit A

4. NAILS:

a) Spooning: Iron deficiency

b) Transverse lines: Protein deficiency

5. SKIN:

a) Pallor : Folic acid, iron, B12 , Vitamin B & Vitamin C deficiency.

b) Follicular hyperkeratosis, Flaking dermatitis : PEM, Vit B2, Vitamin A, Zinc & Niacin deficiency

c) Pigmentation, desquamation Bruising, purpura: Vit K ,Vit C & folic acid deficiency.

6. Thyroid gland :

– Goiter is a reliable sign of iodine deficiency.