ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The pathophysiological condition and potential drug interactions may influence nutritional status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine, separately in male and female schizophrenic subjects, the influence of neuroleptic treatment on different indices of nutritional status. DESIGN: The survey was conducted at a 750-bed mental hospital in 311 custodial care patients, where anthropometric and hematological estimations were measured. RESULTS: In the present study, prevalence of obesity, (assessed by weight-for-height) increased by 10% in males and 18% in females on neuroleptic medication as compared to psychotropic-free schizophrenic subjects. Those taking neuroleptic medication also had larger fat and protein body compartments. Statistical differences between the groups (controls vs neuroleptics) were found for triceps skinfold and arm-muscle circumference as indices of body composition, being more marked in female patients. Neuroleptic administration was associated with changes in iron status, plasma protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides in males, while only plasma protein levels were affected in the female schizophrenic group under antipsychotic therapy. CONCLUSION: This study provides further evidence of adverse consequences of neuroleptic drugs on anthropometric and biochemical markers of nutritional status, and also shows differences between male and female patients in their response to psychotropic medications.
Subject(s)
Anthropometry , Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects , Blood Proteins/metabolism , Institutionalization , Lipids/blood , Nutritional Status , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Body Height , Body Weight , Cholesterol, HDL/blood , Female , Humans , Iron/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/complications , Reference Values , Schizophrenia/complications , Sex Characteristics , Skinfold Thickness , Triglycerides/bloodSubject(s)
Eating , Energy Intake , Hospitals, Psychiatric , Nutrition Assessment , Schizophrenia/metabolism , Aged , Body Weight , Calcium, Dietary/administration & dosage , Cholesterol/blood , Diet Records , Dietary Fats/administration & dosage , Dietary Proteins/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , Iron/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Spain , Zinc/administration & dosageABSTRACT
The prevalence of cases of malnutrition is common in hospitals. Also, some psychiatric disorders have been associated with deficient nutrition. Within this context, analytical evaluations represent a valuable instrument in evaluating the nutritive state of the individual and groups of people, providing specific information at an early stage. Based on the above, the influence of hospitalization and the psychopathological state of 350 patients who had been admitted to a Psychiatric Hospital were studied. The biochemical and haematological determinations performed included the following measurements, parameters and indexes: glucose, proteins, plasmatics, minerals and lipids, haemoglobin, haematocrit and seric iron, as well as a leucocytic count and creatinine-height index. These data as a whole suggest that the frequency of situations of malnutrition is similar to those observed previously in other hospitalized groups and that situations of protein-caloric malnutrition are more common than deficiencies of minerals or vitamins.
