The serum albumin level and total lymphocyte count have been commonly used as sensitive indicators of nutritional status (malnutrition is commonly defined as a total lymphocyte count <1500–2000 cells/mm3, serum albumin level <3.0–3.5 g/dL, or serum transferrin level < 200 mg/dL).18 The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is nutritional deficiency disease.