Advances in analytical techniques: from biochemical assessment of nutritional status to the identification of controlling factors.

Analytical techniques for the biochemical assessment of nutritional status have been the focus of continuing interest at ESPEN over the years. All the congress proceedings were scrutinized to prepare this review. A total of 274 abstracts were found to be relevant to the topic. Fifty-six of these were selected as especially representative of the topic and are referenced. Eighty-seven additional papers of special interest are mentioned in the text with the details necessary to find them easily in the Clin. Nutr. Supplement where they were published. Methods involving stable isotopes were not considered here because these are discussed elsewhere.