American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

What would a negative nitrogen balance indicate?

1. Healthy nutritional status

2. Malnutrition

3. Positive growth

4. Excess protein intake

The correct answer is: Malnutrition

A negative nitrogen balance occurs when the amount of nitrogen excreted from the body exceeds the amount of nitrogen intake. Nitrogen is primarily obtained through protein consumption, so a negative balance indicates that the body is not receiving enough protein to support its metabolic needs. This situation can signal that the body is breaking down tissues, such as muscle, to meet its protein requirements. In the context of malnutrition, a negative nitrogen balance can be used as a key indicator. It typically reflects inadequate protein intake or a failure to absorb nutrients properly, which is often found in individuals facing malnutrition. When the body is unable to utilize nitrogen effectively due to lack of dietary sources, it leads to the breakdown of body tissues, which characterizes various forms of malnutrition. Healthy nutritional status would generally correlate with either a neutral or positive nitrogen balance, indicating that dietary intake is sufficient to support bodily functions and tissue maintenance or growth. Positive growth refers to situations where the body is gaining tissue, which would correspond to a positive nitrogen balance, not a negative one. Lastly, an excess protein intake would not cause a negative balance; rather, it would more likely lead to a neutral or positive balance since more nitrogen would be retained than excreted. Thus, a negative nitrogen balance