Final answer:
The client who consumed 20 grams of protein (equivalent to 3.2 grams of nitrogen) and lost 10 grams of nitrogen is in a negative nitrogen balance of negative 6.8 grams, with the closest provided answer option being 'Negative 5 g'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand is dealing with nitrogen balance, which is an index of protein nutrition that compares nitrogen intake from protein against nitrogen loss. Individuals are in positive nitrogen balance when they retain more nitrogen than they lose, suggesting growth, recovery from illness, or protein accumulation. In negative nitrogen balance, individuals are losing more nitrogen than they consume, which can be the case in situations such as illness, starvation, or inadequate dietary protein intake.
In the scenario presented, a client consumed 20 grams of protein. Since proteins are, on average, 16% nitrogen by weight, this equals an intake of approximately 3.2 grams of nitrogen (20 grams protein times 0.16). With a total nitrogen loss of 10 grams, the patient would thus be in a negative nitrogen balance of 10 - 3.2 = negative 6.8 grams. None of the provided options exactly match this value, but the closest correct answer would be 'Negative 5 g' if we had to choose the best available option. However, the most accurate description would be 'Negative 6.8 g' if it were an available choice.