A decrease in albumin may occur in cases experiencing:

• A. Chronic liver disease
• B. A carnivorous diet
• C. Gastroenteritis
• D. A vegetarian diet

Answer: (C)

Albumin is the main protein made by the liver and helps maintain fluid in the blood vessels. When the gut is inflamed or damaged, proteins can be lost through the intestinal tract and in diarrhea. If these losses continue, serum albumin falls faster than it can be replenished, leading to hypoalbuminemia. Gastroenteritis directly causes protein loss in the GI tract, making it the best explanation for a decrease in albumin. While liver disease can reduce albumin production and diet patterns by themselves don’t typically cause a sudden drop unless malnutrition is extreme, the GI protein loss from gastroenteritis is the most direct and immediate reason for lower albumin.