Nutritional profiling of frail and obese, community dwelling older subjects: Results from a national survey.

INTRODUCTION: Less attention has been given to the detection and nutritional status and needs of obese frail/sarcopenic older subjects. The aim of this study was to characterize the nutritional composition in older (≥65 years), frail-prone, obese subjects (defined by either waist circumference [WC] or body mass index [BMI]). METHODS: A cross-sectional study with analysis of the national survey "Mabat Zahav". Random sample of 1751 community dwelling Israeli older adults (≥65 years). Eleven nutritional factors formerly linked to frailty were a-priori selected based on the current literature. Data was extracted from a 24-hour dietary recall. Adherence for each nutritional factor was defined using the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), and aggregated into a sum score of the overall adherence (ranging from "0" to "11", where "fair" adherence was defined as ≥6; inadequate adherence otherwise). Frailty likelihood was estimated using a validated non-direct model, and associations of nutritional factors with frailty-likelihood in obese vs non-obese individuals were examined. Additionally, a decision tree procedure based on machine learning was applied in order to capture nutritional factors related to frailty, stratified by gender, as well as by WC and/or BMI. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence rates of frailty and pre-frailty were 7.1 and 57.6%, respectively. A "fair nutritional adherence" was less common among frail-prone compared to robust subjects (23.1% vs. 32.1%; p < 0.0001). The intake of most frailty-related nutritional factors did not co-segregate according to the presence of abdominal or BMI-defined obesity. Still, compared to robust normal/overweight subjects, frail-prone obese (by BMI) individuals had a higher rate of inadequate nutritional adherence (odds-ratio 1.842; p < 0.05). Of all 11 nutritional factors, folate in obese women and vitamin A (as retinol) and calcium in non-obese and obese men, respectively, were recognized as the most prominent predictors of frail-prone prevalence by the machine learning process. Although BMI was more closely associated with impaired intake of the 11 selected nutritional components than WC, this association was eliminated when frailty status, low income and education were considered. CONCLUSIONS: Frail-prone subjects differed from robust subjects in their nutritional intake. Nutritional inadequacies related to frailty-likelihood were mostly seen among obese women and non-obese men. In the prediction of inadequate adherence to the DRI of 11 nutritional components, obesity is a weaker predictor than frailty, lower education and low income in older Israeli adults.

Increment in Dietary Potassium Predicts Weight Loss in the Treatment of the Metabolic Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In the treatment of obesity/metabolic syndrome, dietary measures traditionally focus on reducing carbohydrate/fat-related caloric intake. The possibility that changes in potassium consumption may be related to the achieved weight loss has not been previously explored. METHODS: Sixty-eight participants, with a mean age of 51.6 ± 11.0 years (F/M-30/38), who fulfilled the ATPIII criteria for the metabolic syndrome (MS) were enrolled into a 1-year intensive multidisciplinary program. Nutritional recommendation consisted of a moderate low calorie/high protein Mediterranean diet. Baseline assessment included clinical and biochemical profiling, and body composition. Nutritional components were registered over 7 days before and at the end of 1 year of treatment. RESULTS: Mean baseline body mass index (BMI) was 35 ± 4 kg/m², which declined by 9.4 ± 0.1% after one year of combined intervention. Linear stepwise regression analysis revealed that 45% of the predicted variance of the % decline in BMI was related to increased consumption of dietary potassium (ß = -0.865) and caproic acid (ß = -0.423) and reduction in the consumption of dietary vitamin B6 (ß = 0.542), calcium (ß = 0.335), total carbohydrates (ß = 0.239) and total caloric intake (ß = 0.238; p < 0.001). Notably, the strongest correlate of the decline in BMI was the increase in dietary potassium intake (ß = -0.865). Subjects whose achieved decrease in BMI was above the average (n = 30) increased potassium intake by 25% as compared to an increase in dietary potassium intake of only 3% by those whose decline in BMI was below the average (n = 36; p < 0.05). The change in dietary potassium was related to the percent increase in dietary protein (r = 0.433; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: An increase in dietary potassium consumption is a previously unrecognized predictor of the achieved reduction in BMI in a weight-loss-oriented multidisciplinary intervention in obesity/MS. Prospective trials are underway to confirm this post-hoc finding.

Long-term effects of proximal small bowel exclusion by duodenal-jejunal bypass liner on weight reduction and glycemic control in diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Exclusion of the proximal gut from nutrient absorption entails significant metabolic benefits. The duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (DJBL) is the first endoscopic device that excludes the first part of the gut by covering it. OBJECTIVES: To assess weight and glycemic control at the end of treatment and after 1 year of follow-up. SETTING: Bariatric endoscopy service in a tertiary medical center. METHODS: Diabetic patients were treated with DJBL and followed prospectively between 2013 and 2016. Data were collected during scheduled visits. RESULTS: Out of 51 patients treated, 39 completed at least 9 months with the device. Complications were recorded for the entire cohort. Percent of total weight loss was 15.05% ± 6.0% after 12 months of treatment (P < .001 versus baseline). Twelve months postretrieval, percent of total weight loss decreased to 8.75% ± 5.07% (P < .001 versus baseline). Patients with baseline body mass index ≥35 kg/m2 experienced greater percent total weight loss changes over time (P < .001). There was a significant effect on hemoglobin A1C levels over time (P = .003), and the nadir was reached at 9 months of treatment (median 6.05% versus 7.20% at baseline, P < .001). Insulin users had consistently higher median hemoglobin A1C values compared with insulin nonusers (P < .001). Adverse events were experienced by 12 of 51 patients (23.5%), of which 4 cases (7.8%) were severe. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal bowel bypass by DJBL is an effective tool for weight reduction and glycemic control. Metabolic achievements are partially preserved at 1 year after device removal. Because DJBL entails a considerable rate of side effects, strategies to mitigate them are warranted.