The effect of a modified meat product on nutritional status in institutionalized elderly people / Efecto de un producto cárnico modificado sobre el estado nutricional de ancianos institucionalizados

Objective: To determine whether the inclusion of a new modified meat product as a dietary supplement has a positive influence on the nutritional status and blood lipidprofile of institutionalized elderly subjects. Method: A sample population of elderly people living in institutions (9 men and 29 women aged 68-97 years) completed a crossover study with two dietary supplements. Nutritionally complete diets differed only in food supplementation, first, with a standard meat product and, subsequently ,with a modified meat product. Venous blood samples were taken prior to each of the three phases of the study: the basal phase, during which participants followed their normal, controlled diet; a control phase (3days per week for 3 weeks), during which the subjects’ normal diet was supplemented with 50 g of the standard product; and an experimental phase (3 days per week for3 weeks), when the normal diet was supplemented with 50g of the modified product. Results: Nutritional intervention did not influence hematological parameters or serum lipids. The modified meat product altered blood concentrations of urea, creatinine, GOT, transferrin, iron, and retinol-binding protein. Conclusions: Consumption of both the standard and the modified products contributes to maintaining the individuals’ nutritional status and equalizes nutritional status across the study population with no effect on blood lipid profiles. Despite the limitations of the experiment, the introduction of dietary supplements in meat products significantly increased plasma iron levels in this elderly sample (AU)

Objetivo: Determinar si la suplementación de la dieta normal con un producto cárnico modificado tiene un efecto positivo sobre el estado nutricional y el perfil lipídicosanguíneo de ancianos institucionalizados. Método: Se aplicó un diseño cruzado a una muestra poblacional de ancianos institucionalizados (9 hombres and 29 mujeres de 68-97 años) administrando dos suplementos dietéticos. Las dietas primero se suplementaron con un producto cárnico estándar y luego con un producto cárnico modificado. Previamente a cada una de las tres fases del estudio se extrajeron muestras de sangre: fase basal, en la que los participantes siguieron su dieta habitual; fase control (3 días a la semana durante 3 semanas),en la que se suplementó la dieta con 50 g de un producto cárnico estándar y una fase experimental (3 días a la semana durante 3 semanas), en la que se suplemento la dieta con 50 g de un producto cárnico modificado. Resultados: La intervención nutricional no influyó negativamente ni en los parámetros hematológicos ni en los lípidos séricos. No obstante, el consumo del producto cárnico modificado alteró las concentraciones sanguíneas de urea, creatinina, GOT, transferrina, hierro y proteína transportadora de retinol. Conclusiones: El consume de ambos productos cárnicos contribuyó a mantener el estado nutricional de los sujetos homogeneizándolo en el conjunto de los mismos sin afectar negativamente al perfil lipídico sanguíneo. No obstante las limitaciones del presente estudio, se concluye que la incorporación regular de estos suplementos cárnicos mejora los niveles de hierro plasmático de los ancianos (AU)

The effect of a modified meat product on nutritional status in institutionalized elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the inclusion of a new modified meat product as a dietary supplement has a positive influence on the nutritional status and blood lipid profile of institutionalized elderly subjects. METHOD: A sample population of elderly people living in institutions (9 men and 29 women aged 68-97 years) completed a crossover study with two dietary supplements. Nutritionally complete diets differed only in food supplementation, first, with a standard meat product and, subsequently, with a modified meat product. Venous blood samples were taken prior to each of the three phases of the study: the basal phase, during which participants followed their normal, controlled diet; a control phase (3 days per week for 3 weeks), during which the subjects' normal diet was supplemented with 50 g of the standard product; and an experimental phase (3 days per week for 3 weeks), when the normal diet was supplemented with 50 g of the modified product. RESULTS: Nutritional intervention did not influence hematological parameters or serum lipids. The modified meat product altered blood concentrations of urea, creatinine, GOT, transferrin, iron, and retinol-binding protein. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of both the standard and the modified products contributes to maintaining the individuals' nutritional status and equalizes nutritional status across the study population with no effect on blood lipid profiles. Despite the limitations of the experiment, the introduction of dietary supplements in meat products significantly increased plasma iron levels in this elderly sample.

[Acute nutritional problems in the oncology patient]. / Problemas agudos de la nutrición en el paciente oncológico.

Alterations to the nutritional state are frequent in oncology patients. These constitute an important medical problem, with a tendency to rise in recent years. Some tumours usually appear more frequently in persons with prior malnutrition or excessive consumption of alcohol or tobacco. But besides, either because of the disease, or because of the treatment to which they are subjected, it is frequently the case that oncology patients show problems of deglutition and require the placement of probes for enteral nutrition. The present paper offers an initial evaluation of the nutritional state of these patients and, subsequently, of the most important problems that patients with enteral nutrition can present in emergencies.

Problemas agudos de la nutrición en el paciente oncológico / Acute nutritional problems in the oncology patient

Las alteraciones en el estado nutricional son frecuentes en los enfermos oncológicos, lo que constituye un problema médico importante, con una tendencia ascendente en los últimos años. Algunos tumores suelen presentarse con mayor frecuencia en personas con malnutrición previa o consumo excesivo de tabaco o alcohol. Pero además, bien por la enfermedad o por el tratamiento al que se les somete, es frecuente que los enfermos oncológicos presenten problemas de deglución y precisen la colocación de sondas para nutrición enteral. En el presente trabajo se realizará una primera valoración del estado nutricional de estos pacientes y posteriormente de los problemas más importantes que pueden presentar en urgencias los enfermos con nutrición enteral (AU)

Alterations to the nutritional state are frequent in oncology patients. These constitute an important medical problem, with a tendency to rise in recent years. Some tumours usually appear more frequently in persons with prior malnutrition or excessive consumption of alcohol or tobacco. But besides, either because of the disease, or because of the treatment to which they are subjected, it is frequently the case that oncology patients show problems of deglutition and require the placement of probes for enteral nutrition. The present paper offers an initial evaluation of the nutritional state of these patients and, subsequently, of the most important problems that patients with enteral nutrition can present in emergencies (AU)

Factores preventivos y nutricionales de la osteoporosis / Preventive and nutritional factors of osteoporosis

En la osteoporosis hay una reducción de la matriz proteica y mineral del hueso, con incremento del riesgo de fractura, en especial de algunos huesos. En el presente trabajo se citan algunos factores preventivos relacionados con la alimentación y el estilo de vida. Es fundamental la adquisición de masa ósea en la infancia y la adolescencia, realizando una cantidad razonable de actividad física y una exposición mínima a la luz solar, junto con un alto consumo de calcio procedente de los lácteos. La suplementación farmacológica en calcio estaría justificada cuando la ingesta de leche y derivados sea pequeña en edades juveniles y en la perimenopausia, así como en personas enclaustradas o institucionalizadas, en las que se debiera añadir suplementos de vitamina D. Evitar en lo posible el tabaquismo, el consumo abusivo de alcohol, las pérdidas intensas de peso y las dietas muy hipocalóricas, el sedentarismo y el ejercicio excesivo, serían otras medidas preventivas de la osteoporosis (AU)

[Preventive and nutritional factors of osteoporosis]. / Factores preventivos y nutricionales de la osteoporosis.

In osteoporosis there is a reduction in the protein and mineral matrix of the bone, with an increase in the risk of fracture, especially of some bones. The present paper discusses some of the preventive factors relating to nutrition and life style. The acquisition of bone mass in infancy and adolescence is fundamental, carrying out a reasonable amount of exercise and a minimum exposure to sunlight, together with a high consumption of calcium proceeding from dairy products. The pharmacological supplement of calcium would be justified when the ingestion of milk and its derivatives is low in the juvenile and perimenopausal ages, as well as in cloistered or institutionalised persons, for whom vitamin D supplements should be added. Avoiding the following risks, smoking, the abusive consumption of alcohol, intense weight loss and diets that are extremely hypercaloric, a sedentary lifestyle and excessive exercise would all be other preventive measures for osteoporosis.

Composición corporal y obesidad / Body composition and obesity

La obesidad es la enfermedad que se caracteriza por un exceso patológico de tejido adiposo. Habitualmente, este exceso se mide según su repercusión en el peso y en el Índice de Masa Corporal. Los métodos de medida de la composición corporal, algunos de reciente introducción, van mostrando las consecuencias en la salud del exceso de grasa, en especial de la grasa visceral. Se revisan los marcadores epidemiológicos de obesidad, las técnicas de valoración de la masa grasa, la influencia de la distribución del tejido adiposo y los factores que condicionan la grasa visceral, así como la influencia de este tejido en el perfil metabólico del obeso (AU)

[Body composition and obesity]. / Composición corporal y obesidad.

Obesity is a disease that is characterised by a pathological excess of adipose tissue. Normally, this excess is measured according to its repercussion on weight and on the index of body mass. The methods for measuring body composition, some of which are of recent introduction, are showing the consequences on health of excess fat, especially visceral fat. A review is offered of the epidemiological markers of obesity, the techniques for evaluating fatty mass, the influence of the distribution of the adipose tissue and the factors that condition visceral fat, as well as the influence of this tissue on the metabolic profile of the obese patient.

[Weight-loss drugs: composition of diet pills prescribed in Navarra]. / Fármacos adelgazantes: Composición de preparados magistrales prescritos en Navarra.

BACKGROUND: The prescription, dispensation and sale of "Magisterial formulas" for weight loss is a very extended practice in Spain, in spite of being strongly unadvised by different Administration Department as well as by medical and sanitary groups. The composition of these preparations is not labelled if so only in a generic way. METHODS: The content of 54 capsules from 6 different origins (3 medical consultations, 1 pharmacist consultation, 1 free sale in pharmacies and 1 free sale in stores) was analysed in 2 laboratories. The presence and quantity of 29 active principles was searched by spectrophotometry, chromatography and radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The presence of some of the 12 following substances was confirmed in 42 samples (77.8%): hormones (levothyroxine, cortisol and cortisone), appetite suppression phenetilamines (amphetamine, amphepranone, fenfluramine and fenproporex), benzodiazepines (diazepam, clorazepato and chlordiazepoxide) and diuretics (triamterene and ciclotiazide). The quantities of active principles was very variable in and among the six groups. In 13 of the capsules 1 active principle and in 29 combinations of two or more was found. None component of the labels, when available, corresponded with their analysed components. In 12 samples (22.2%) none of the which may correspond to some substances different from the 29 sought ones. CONCLUSIONS: The usage of formulas as the studied here on the overweight and obesity treatment should be obviously unadvised.