Body mass index and waist circumference are not good surrogate indicators of adiposity in psychogeriatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the utility of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) as surrogate indicators of adiposity with respect to the total body fat estimated with bioimpedance analysis in psychogeriatric patients. METHODS: Anthropometric and hand-to-foot bioimpedance measurements were performed according to standard procedures in a sample of 128 psychogeriatric patients (87 males, 41 females). WC cutoffs proposed by the International Diabetes Federation were used to define abdominal obesity. Z-scores of fat and fat-free mass indices (Z-FMI and Z-FFMI) were calculated. RESULTS: Males with WC values below the cutoff were normal weight, and showed normal levels of FM and low FFM (Z-FFMI below 1.5 SD). Males with WC values above the cutoff were overweight, showed high levels of FM (Z-FMI: 1.34 SD) and a slight depletion of FFM (Z-FFMI: -0.59 SD). In females with WC values below the cutoff, BMI was close to 20 kg/m(2) and both FM and FFM were depleted (Z-FMI: -0.7 SD; Z-FFMI: -1.76 SD). In females with WC above the cutoff, the average BMI was 25.6 kg/m(2) , Z-FMI was 0.48 SD, and Z-FFMI was -0.56 SD. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that it is necessary to establish age and sex-specific BMI and WC cutoffs, and also highlight the importance of focusing on body composition analysis to ensure an accurate nutritional diagnosis in older-adults and in psychogeriatric patients.

Propuesta de una nueva fórmula de estimación del gasto energético en reposo para población sana española / Proposal for a new formula for estimating resting energy expenditure for healthy Spanish population

Introducción: aunque se dispone de técnicas precisas y exactas para la estimación del GER, como la calorimetría indirecta (CI), en la práctica diaria se precisan métodos rápidos, fáciles de aplicar y económicos, como los modelos predictivos. Objetivo: desarrollar una nueva ecuación predictiva del gasto energético en reposo (GER) para población española adulta sana. Métodos: se determinó el GER en 95 sujetos sanos con normopeso mediante CI. Se utilizó la regresión lineal múltiple para la obtención del modelo, empleando como criterios analíticos la Cp de Mallows y el R2 ajustado. Se estudió el comportamiento del modelo generado en una muestra de 39 sujetos con IMC más o menos 25 kg/m2 mediante el coeficiente de correlación intraclase (ICC) y la prueba de Bland-Altman. La significación se alcanzó con p < 0,05. Resultados: la edad media fue de 42 años (rango: 23,0- 63,2). El valor medio del GER estimado fue de 1.589,1 kcal/d (312,0). La ecuación seleccionada fue: [GER (kcal/d) = 1.376,4 - 308 Sexo (V = 0; M = 1) + 11,1 Peso (kg) - 8 Edad (años)] (R2 : 0,68; EE: 175,95). El CCI entre el nuevo modelo predictivo y la CI fue de 0,901 (IC del 95%: 0,851 - 0,934) en la muestra con normopeso. La aplicación del modelo en la muestra de sujetos con IMC más o menos 25 kg/m2 alcanzó una buena concordancia (CCI de 0,880; IC del 95%: 0,772 - 0,937). Conclusiones: se presenta un nuevo modelo de estimación del GER para población sana española fácilmente aplicable en la práctica diaria, que incluye las variables sexo, edad y peso. La ecuación propuesta presenta un comportamiento adecuado en sujetos con IMC más o menos 25 kg/m2 (AU)

Introduction: although there are precise and accurate techniques for estimating resting energy expenditure, like the indirect calorimetry (IC), daily practice needs faster, easier and cheaper methods as the predictive equations. Objective: the aim of the study was to develop a new predictive equation for estimating resting energy expenditure (REE) for healthy Spanish population. Méthods: the REE of 95 healthy normal weighted volunteers was determined by indirect calorimetry (IC). The new equation was obtained by multiple lineal regression by using the analytical criteria of the Cp of Mallows and the adjusted R2. Then, the behavior of the new formula was studied in a group of overweight volunteers through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Almand plots. The level of signification was reached at p < 0,05. Results: the average age was 42 years (range: 2.0-63.2). Mean REE determined by IC was 1 589.1 kcal/d (312.0). The selected equation was: [y = 1376.4 - 308 Sex (M = 0; W = 1) + 11.1 Weigh (kg) - 8 Age (years)] (R2: 0.68; EE: 175.95). The ICC between the new equation and the IC in normal weighted subjects was 0.901 (95%CI: 0.851 - 0.934). The new formula showed a good level of agreement in the overweight group (ICC: 0.880; 95%IC: 0.772 - 0.937). Conclusions: we propose a new predictive equation for estimating the REE for healthy Spanish population which has an easy application and includes sex, age and weigh. The selected equation shows an adequate behavior in overweight subjects too (AU)

Concordancia entre calorimetría indirecta y modelos predictivos en una población sana española / Agreement between indirect calorimetry and predictive equations in a sample of Spanish healthy adults

Objetivo: estudiar la concordancia entre el gasto energético en reposo (GER) obtenido mediante calorimetría indirecta (CI), y las ecuaciones de estimación más utilizadas en población adulta sana española. Métodos: estudio transversal en el que se determinó el GER en 95 sujetos sanos con normopeso mediante calorimetría indirecta y modelos predictivos (se seleccionaron 45 fórmulas desarrolladas en adultos de características similares a la muestra estudiada que incluían peso, talla, sexo y/o composición corporal). La concordancia entre ambos métodos se analizó mediante el Coeficiente de Correlación Intraclase (CCI) y la prueba de Bland-Altman. La significación se alcanzó con p< 0,05. Resultados: la edad media fue de 42 años (rango: 23,0– 63,2). El GER medio estimado por CI en la muestra fue de 1589 (312) kcal/día [1822,3 (224,3) kcal/día en varones y 1379,3 (216,1) kcal/día en mujeres; p< 0,05]. Las fórmulas que mejor se ajustaron a la muestra fueron las de De-Lorenzo, Harris-Benedict, Schofield y, especialmente, Korth. Conclusiones: existen grandes variaciones en la estimación del gasto energético en reposo en función de la ecuación predictiva utilizada. Las fórmulas de De-Lorenzo, Harris-Benedic y Schofield se comportan adecuadamente en la muestra evaluada; sin embargo, la de Korth demostró ser la más apta. Los modelos que incluyen peso y/o talla obtuvieron mejores resultados que los que contienen variables de composición corporal (AU)

Objective: the aim of this study was to analyze the agreement between the resting energy expenditure (REE) obtained by indirect calorimetry (IC) and that obtained by prediction equations in a sample of healthy adults from Spain. Méthods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 95 healthy, normal-weight adults. REE was determined by IC and 45 population-specific prediction equations which were based on weight, height, sex and/or body composition (BC). The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Alman plots were used to analyze the agreement between the REE obtained by IC and that obtained by prediction equations. The level of signification was reached at p< 0,05. Results: mean age was 42 years (range: 23.0–63.2). Mean REE determined by CI was 1589 (312) kcal/d [1822.3 (224.3) kcal/d in men and 1379.3 (216.1) kcal/d in women; p< 0.05]. The De-Lorenzo, Harris-Benedict, Schofield, and especially the Korth equations showed the greatest level of agreement with respect to IC. Conclusions: there is high variability in the estimates of REE depending on the prediction equation used. The De Lorenzo, Harris-Benedict, and the Schofield equations showed a good level of agreement in our sample; however, the Korth equation was the most appropriate. Equations based on weight and/or height were more accurate than those which included body composition variables (AU)

Nutritional status assessment in geriatrics: Consensus declaration by the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology Nutrition Work Group.

Ongoing population ageing is one of the factors influencing the increase in the prevalence of undernutrition, because elderly people are a vulnerable group due to their biological, psychological and social characteristics. Despite its high prevalence, undernutrition is underdiagnosed in the geriatric sphere. For this reason, the aim of this consensus document is to devise a protocol for geriatric nutritional assessment. A multidisciplinary team has been set up within the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (in Spanish Sociedad Española de Geriatría y Gerontología, SEGG) in order to address undernutrition and risk of undernutrition so that they can be diagnosed and treated in an effective manner. The MNA-SF is a practical tool amongst the many validated methods for nutritional screening. Following suspicion of undernutrition or after establishing the presence of undernutrition, a full assessment will include a detailed nutritional history of the patient. The compilation of clinical-nutritional and dietetic histories seeks to aid in identifying the possible risk factors at the root of a patient's undernutrition. Following this, an anthropometric assessment associated to laboratory data, will describe the patient's physical and metabolic changes associated to undernutrition. Currently, the tendency is to further nutritional assessment through the use of non-invasive techniques to study body composition in association with functional status. The latter is an indirect index for nutritional status which is very interesting from a geriatrician's point of view. To conclude, correct nutritional screening is the fundamental basis for an early undernutrition diagnosis and to assess the need for nutritional treatment. In order to achieve this, it is fundamental to foster research in the field of nutritional geriatrics, in order to expand our knowledge base and to increasingly practice evidence-based geriatrics.

Specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) is more accurate than classic BIVA to detect changes in body composition and in nutritional status in institutionalised elderly with dementia.

BACKGROUND: A new analytical variation of bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA), called specific BIVA, has shown to be more accurate in detecting changes in fat mass than classic BIVA. OBJECTIVE: To compare classic and specific BIVA in order to identify which is more strongly associated with psycho-functional and nutritional indicators in a group of institutionalised elderly patients with dementia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Fifty-four patients (34 women, 20 men) with dementia in moderately severe to very severe stages and aged 60-95years underwent geriatric nutritional assessment, including body mass index calculations, the Mini Nutritional Assessment, the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, and whole body composition analysis. RESULTS: With specific BIVA (unlike with classic BIVA), significant differences were found between women with moderately severe and very severe dementia. In the BIVA conducted for body mass index, the confidence ellipses produced with the classic BIVA approach were highly overlapping; but with specific BIVA, significant differences were observed between the women in different nutritional categories (malnutrition, risk of malnutrition, normal weight and obesity). On the other hand, both approaches distinguished malnourished women from those who were at risk of malnutrition, according to the Mini Nutritional Assessment; and men with a moderate-high risk of malnutrition from men with no risk, on the basis of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index. CONCLUSION: Overall, the findings of the present study suggest that specific BIVA is more effective than classic BIVA in identifying bioelectrical changes associated with psycho-functional and nutritional indicators in institutionalised elderly with dementia.

[Design and implementation of a questionnaire to evaluate the dietary quality of school meals]. / Diseño y aplicación de un cuestionario de calidad dietética de los menús escolares.

INTRODUCTION: The school canteen provides a substantial proportion of the daily nutritional intake for many children. There are nutritional standards for school meals, however, it is still difficult to assess the dietary quality. AIMS: To design a questionnaire for assessing the dietary quality of school meals, quickly and easily. METHODS: A dietary questionnaire (COMES) was designed on the basis of the current recommendations. COMES consist of 15 items related to the food-frequency and to other characteristics of school meals. Then, a longitudinal prospective study was performed in order to analyze, with COMES, 36 school meals of 4 catering companies from Castilla y León during the academic years 2006-2007 to 2010-2011. Differences in dietary quality menus according to the management system of catering companies (in situ vs. transported) were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney and the Kruskal-Wallis tests. The significance was reached at p <0,05. RESULTS: The frequency intake of meat, dairy and prepared products was higher to the recommended in 97,2%, 94,4% and 27,8% of the analyzed menus, respectively. By contrast, the frequency intake of fish, fruit, legume, and vegetable garnishes were lower to the recommended in 83,3%, 94,4%, 91,7% and 75% of menus, respectively. Nevertheless, recommendations established by our consensus document for school meals are complied for all food groups, except for dairy and fruits. The variety of foods and culinary techniques were appropriate. No significant differences were found in the COMES score according to the management system (p=0,87), although catering system provides higher dietary quality. CONCLUSIONS: A new tool to assess quickly and easily the nutritional quality of school meals has been proposed. The assessment of the frequency intake of the most problematic foods for schoolchildren with this scale is much more demanding than the current recommendations. Even so, menus analyzed showed an acceptable quality in terms of variety of foods and culinary techniques, although milk frequency in the menus was excessive at the expense of fresh fruit. On the other hand, the transported system (i.e. catering, both hot and cold-holding) provides menus more consistent with the dietary recommendations.

Introducción: El comedor escolar es el centro de comida habitual para muchos niños. Aunque actualmente se dispone de guías y recomendaciones para los menús escolares, resulta difícil evaluar su calidad dietética. Objetivos: Diseñar un cuestionario para evaluar la calidad desde el punto de vista dietético de los menús escolares de forma rápida y sencilla. Material y métodos: Partiendo de las recomendaciones, se ha diseñado un cuestionario (COMES) de 15 ítems que hacen referencia a la frecuencia de consumo de alimentos y otras características de los menús escolares. A continuación se realizó un estudio longitudinal prospectivo en el que se analizaron con este cuestionario 36 planillas de menús de 4 empresas de restauración colectiva que prestaban el servicio de comedor escolar en Castilla y León durante los cursos 2006-2007 a 2010-2011. Se analizaron las diferencias en función del sistema de gestión de las empresas mediante la prueba U de Mann-Whitney y el test de Kruskal- Wallis. La significación se alcanzó con una p.

Cambios en la composición corporal en función del grado de demencia en un grupo de ancianos institucionalizados / Changes in body composition in relation to the stage of dementia in a group of institutionalized elderly

Objetivo: Valorar el estado nutricional de un grupo de ancianos institucionalizados con demencia, analizando los cambios en la composición corporal en función de su estadío evolutivo. Método: Se ha realizado un estudio transversal en el que se valoró el estado nutricional y la composición corporal (antropometría, MNA, y bioimpedancia) en 63 ancianos institucionalizados con diagnóstico de demencia en estadíos evolutivos 5, 6 y 7 de las escalas GDS (Global Deterioration Scale) y FAST (Functional Assessment Stating). Se calcularon los índices de masa grasa (IMG) y de masa libre de grasa (IMLG). Los resultados se analizaron mediante el ANOVA de un factor y ANOVA factorial o Kruskal-Wallis, y contrastes a posteriori de Scheffé. La significación se alcanzó con p < 0,05. Resultados: La media de edad fue 80,6 (IC 95%: 78,3- 83,0; Rango: 51-95) años. Según el MNA, el 38,1% de la muestra presentaba malnutrición, el 60,3% riesgo de malnutrición, y el 1,6% normalidad nutricional. La media del índice de masa corporal fue 23,06 (22,01-24,10) kg/m2, sin diferencias significativas en función del estadío evolutivo, salvo en los paliativos (media: 19,85; IC 95%: 78,3-83,0 kg/m2). Los pacientes en estadíos GDS/FAST 5, 6 y 7 no paliativos presentan una Z-Score del IMG próxima a 0 DS, y una Z-Score del IMLG de aproximadamente -1 DS, resultados compatibles con una situación de sarcopenia. En los paliativos (GDS/FAST =?7c) ambos índices son significativamente inferiores. Conclusión: El análisis de la composición corporal debe ser incluido en la valoración del estado nutricional siempre. De lo contrario no sería posible detectar situaciones de obesidad sarcopénica, muy prevalentes en ancianos con estas características (AU)

OBJECTIVE: To assess the nutritional status of a group of institutionalized elderly with dementia by analysing the changes in the body composition according to their evolutionary state. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out assessing the nutritional status and the body composition (anthropometry, MNA and bioimpedance) in 63 institutionalized elderly with a diagnosis of dementia in evolutionary stages 5, 6 and 7 of the GDS (Global Deterioration Scale) scales and the FAST (Functional Assessment Stating) scale. The fat mass index (FMI) and the fat-free mass index (FFMI) were calculated. The results were analysed by one-factor ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis factorial ANOVA and Scheffé's a posteriori contrasts. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Mean age was 80.6 years (95%CI: 78.3-83.0; Range: 51-95). According to MNA, 38.1% of the sample had hyponutrition, 60.3% was at risk for malnourishment; and 1.6% had normal nutrition. The average body mass index was 23.06 (22.01-24.10) kg/m2, without any significant difference by the degree of evolutionary state, except for those on palliative care (mean: 19.85; 95%CI: 78.3-83.0 kg/m2). The patients in the non-palliative stages GDS/FAST 5, 6 and 7 presented a Z-Score of FMI close to a 0 SD, and a Z-Score for the FFMI of approximately -1 DS. These results are compatible with a sarcopenia situation. In patients on palliative care (GDS/FAST =?7c) both indexes were significantly lower. CONCLUSION: The analysis of body composition should always be included in the assessment of the nutritional status. If not, it would not be possible to detect situations of sarcopenic obesity, which is rather prevalent in elderly people with these characteristics (AU)