Nutritional Risk and Malnutrition in Paediatrics: From Anthropometric Assessment to Strongkids® Screening Tool.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized children is high and is associated with negative health impact. The aim of this study was to characterize the nutritional status of hospitalized children as well as comparing nutritional risk stratification using the STRONGkids® tool and anthropometric assessment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted between March and June 2019 in a paediatric unit of a district hospital. Children with ages between one month and 17 years were included. Nutritional screening (STRONGkids®) was performed, and demographic and anthropometric variables were assessed by trained doctors and nurses (z-scores for height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height and body mass index were compared to the World Health Organization reference values) and related to the underlying condition (cause of hospitalization; hospital stay; the presence of chronic disease). RESULTS: A total of 209 children were evaluated, 188 of whom were included. Median age was 4.6 years and median hospital length of stay was four days. Fifty-four per cent were classified with "moderate risk" and 2% with "high risk" of developing malnutrition; 25% were effectively malnourished. Of the 105 children for which it was possible to calculate the z-scores, 6% presented acute malnutrition and nearly 14% presented chronic malnutrition. The STRONGkids® score correlated positively with nutritional status on admission, disease type on admission, and presence of previous underlying disease (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: STRONGkids® is a simple, quick nutritional screening tool for hospitalized children that is related to nutritional status on admission. Given that a considerably high percentage of children were identified as being at risk for malnutrition, it is essential to identify this early and provide nutritional intervention during hospitalization.

Cardoon as a Sustainable Crop for Biomass and Bioactive Compounds Production.

Cardoon is a multi-purpose and versatile Mediterranean crop, adapted to climate change, with a wide spectrum of potential applications due its added value as a rich source of fibers, oils and bioactive compounds. The Cynara species are a component of the Mediterranean diet and have been used as food and medicine since ancient times. The important role of cardoon in human nutrition, as a functional food, is due to its high content of nutraceutical and bioactive compounds such as oligofructose inulin, caffeoylquinic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, sesquiterpenes lactones, triterpenes, fatty acids and aspartic proteases. The present review highlights the characteristics and functions of cardoon biomass which permits the development of innovative products in food and nutrition, pharmaceutics and cosmetics, plant protection and biocides, oils and energy, lignocellulose materials, and healthcare industries following the actual trends of a circular economy.