Monitoring children and adolescents with severe obesity: body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score or percentage above the International Obesity Task Force overweight cut-off?

AIM: Body mass index (BMI) metrics are widely used as a proxy for adiposity in children with severe obesity. The BMI expressed as the percentage of a cut-off percentile for overweight or obesity has been proposed as a better alternative than BMI z-scores when monitoring children and adolescents with severe obesity. METHODS: Annual changes in BMI, BMI z-score and the percentage above the International Obesity Task Force overweight cut-off (%IOTF-25) were compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) derived body fat (%BF-DXA) in 59 children and adolescents with severe obesity. RESULTS: The change in %BF-DXA was correlated with the change in %IOTF-25 (r = 0.68) and BMI (r = 0.70), and somewhat less with the BMI z-score (r = 0.57). Cohen's Kappa statistic to detect an increase or decrease in %BF-DXA was fair for %IOTF-25 (κ = 0.25; p = 0.04) and BMI (κ = 0.33; p = 0.01), but not for the BMI z-score (κ = 0.08; p = 0.5). The change in BMI was positively biased due to a natural increase with age. CONCLUSION: Changes in the BMI metrics included in the study are associated differently with changes in %BF-DXA. The BMI z-score is widely used to monitor changes in adiposity in children and adolescents with severe obesity, but the %IOTF-25 might be a better alternative.

Study Protocol: A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of family-based behavioral treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity-The FABO-study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the FABO-study is to evaluate the effect of family-based behavioral social facilitation treatment (FBSFT), designed to target children's family and social support networks to enhance weight loss outcomes, compared to the standard treatment (treatment as usual, TAU) given to children and adolescents with obesity in a routine clinical practice. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial (RCT), in which families (n = 120) are recruited from the children and adolescents (ages 6-18 years) referred to the Obesity Outpatient Clinic (OOC), Haukeland University Hospital, Norway. Criteria for admission to the OOC are BMI above the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off ≥ 35, or IOTF ≥ 30 with obesity related co-morbidity. Families are randomized to receive FBSFT immediately or following one year of TAU. All participants receive a multidisciplinary assessment. For TAU this assessment results in a plan and a contract for chancing specific lifestyle behaviors. Thereafter each family participates in monthly counselling sessions with their primary health care nurse to work on implementing these goals, including measuring their weight change, and also meet every third month for sessions at the OOC. In FBSFT, following assessment, families participate in 17 weekly sessions at the OOC, in which each family works on changing lifestyle behaviors using a structured cognitive-behavioral, socio-ecological approach targeting both parents and children with strategies for behavioral maintenance and sustainable weight change. Outcome variables include body mass index (BMI; kg/m2), BMI standard deviation score (SDS) and percentage above the IOTF definition of overweight, waist-circumference, body composition (bioelectric impedance (BIA) and dual-X-ray-absorptiometry (DXA)), blood tests, blood pressure, activity/inactivity and sleep pattern (measured by accelerometer), as well as questionnaires measuring depression, general psychological symptomatology, self-esteem, disturbed eating and eating disorder symptoms. Finally, barriers to treatment and parenting styles are measured via questionnaires. DISCUSSION: This is the first systematic application of FBSFT in the treatment of obesity among youth in Norway. The study gives an opportunity to evaluate the effect of FBSFT implemented in routine clinical practice across a range of youth with severe obesity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrails.gov NCT02687516 . Registered 16th of February, 2016.

Comparison of nutritional risk screening with NRS2002 and the GLIM diagnostic criteria for malnutrition in hospitalized patients.

Nutritional risk screening, to identify patients at risk of malnutrition, is the first step in the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in hospitalized patients, and should be followed by a thorough nutritional assessment resulting in a diagnosis of malnutrition and subsequent treatment. In 2019, a consensus on criteria has been suggested for the diagnosis of malnutrition by the Global Leadership Initiative for Malnutrition (GLIM). This study investigates the diagnosis of malnutrition in hospitalized patients using nutritional risk screening and the diagnostic assessment suggested by GLIM. Hospitalized patients (excluding cancer, intensive care, and transmissible infections) who underwent nutritional risk screening (by NRS2002) were included. Nutritional risk screening was followed by anthropometric measurements including measurement of muscle mass, assessment of dietary intake and measurement of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) for inflammation in all patients. Malnutrition was diagnosed according to the GLIM-criteria. In total, 328 patients (median age 71 years, 47% women, median length of stay 7 days) were included. Nutritional risk screening identified 143 patients as at risk of malnutrition, while GLIM criteria led to a diagnosis of malnutrition in 114 patients. Of these 114 patients, 77 were also identified as at risk of malnutrition by NRS2002, while 37 patients were not identified by NRS2002. Malnutrition was evident in fewer patients than at risk of malnutrition, as expected. However, a number of patients were malnourished who were not identified by the screening procedure. More studies should investigate the importance of inflammation and reduced muscle mass, which is the main difference between nutritional risk screening and GLIM diagnostic assessment.

Perceived food hypersensitivity: a review of 10 years of interdisciplinary research at a reference center.

Perceived food hypersensitivity is a prevalent, but poorly understood condition. In this review article, we summarize narratively recent literature including results of our 10 years' interdisciplinary research program dealing with such patients. The patients (more than 400) included in our studies were all adults referred to a university hospital because of gastrointestinal complaints self-attributed to food hypersensitivity. Despite extensive examinations, food allergy was seldom diagnosed. The majority of the patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, most suffered from several extra-intestinal health complaints and had considerably impaired quality of life. However, psychological factors could explain only approximately 10% of the variance in the patients' symptom severity and 90% of the variance thus remained unexplained. Intolerance to low-digestible carbohydrates was a common problem and abdominal symptoms were replicated by carbohydrate ingestion. A considerable number of patients showed evidence of immune activation by analyses of B-cell activating factor, dendritic cells and "IgE-armed" mast cells. Multiple factors such as immune activation, disturbed intestinal fermentation, enteric dysmotility, post-infectious changes and "local" allergy in the gut as well as psychological disturbances may play a role in the pathophysiology of perceived food hypersensitivity. Hence, our results support the view that management of these patients should be interdisciplinary.

Antibiotic or bacterial therapy in post-giardiasis irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE. Intestinal infection with Giardia lamblia may lead to therapy-resistant, long-lasting post-giardiasis irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We report two open pilot studies aiming to treat this condition, using either antibiotics or bacterio-therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Twenty-eight patients with persistent abdominal symptoms, following clearance of G. lamblia infection, were investigated. Eighteen received treatment with rifaximin plus metronidazole (8-10 days) whereas 10 received a suspension of live faecal flora, installed into the duodenum during gastro-duodenoscopy. Customary abdominal symptoms and symptoms following a lactulose breath test were quantified by questionnaires. Hydrogen and methane production after lactulose were analysed in expired air and excretion of fat and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was examined in faeces. RESULTS. As compared with pre-treatment values, total customary symptom scores were barely significantly reduced (p = 0.07) after antibiotics, but were highly significantly reduced (p = 0.0009) after bacterio-therapy. However, symptom improvement following bacterio-therapy did not persist 1 year later. Hydrogen breath excretion was slightly reduced after antibiotics, but not after bacterio-therapy. Compared with healthy persons, faecal excretion of fat was significantly increased in Giardia-cured patients. SCFAs were increased in the bacterio-therapy group, and were not influenced by therapy. CONCLUSIONS. Both antibiotics and bacterio-therapy were ineffective with respect to cure of post-giardiasis IBS. High faecal excretion of fat and SCFAs suggests that intestinal malabsorption of fat and carbohydrates may play a role in the IBS-like complaints of these patients.

Carbohydrate intolerance in patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity: comparison of lactulose and glucose.

OBJECTIVE: Malabsorption of low-digestible carbohydrates is physiological, but poorly tolerated in some patients. We investigated symptom anticipation and microbial fermentation as possible mechanisms of carbohydrate intolerance in patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study, 27 consecutive patients with unexplained, self-reported food hypersensitivity were given 10 g lactulose and 10 g glucose (placebo). Symptoms and pulmonary excretion of hydrogen and methane were assessed. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), lactate and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) were analyzed in rectal dialysis fluid, and compared to dialysates from nine healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Post-lactulose symptom scores were correlated with habitual symptom scores (r = 0.6, p = 0.001), significantly higher than post-glucose symptom scores (p = 0.01) and significantly higher in patients than controls (p = 0.0007). Levels of SCFAs, lactate and PGE(2) in rectal dialysates were not significantly different after lactulose and glucose, or between patients and controls. Hydrogen excretion was not correlated with symptom scores. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that self-reported food hypersensitivity is related to microbial fermentation of malabsorbed carbohydrates and not to symptom anticipation solely. Levels of SCFAs, lactate and PGE(2) in rectal dialysates could not explain the fermentation-associated hypersensitivity.

Subjective health complaints and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome following Giardia lamblia infection: a case control study.

OBJECTIVE: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with unexplained medical symptoms, and the degree of somatic comorbidity may indicate whether the aetiology of IBS is predominantly psychological or biological in origin. The purpose of this study was to examine the comorbidity and quality of life of patients with IBS following infection with Giardia lamblia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-seven consecutive patients with persistent abdominal symptoms, initiated by an acute infection with G. lamblia, completed questionnaires for scoring of subjective health complaints (SHC) and quality of life (Short-form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI)). The scores were compared with corresponding scores in persons from the general population (n=70). RESULTS: Compared with controls, each of the two groups of patients, those with present (n=17) and those with cured (n=50) G. lamblia infection, had significantly higher scores (p<0.0001) on SHC. However, subscores on somatic comorbidity (musculoskeletal pain) were low and similar to those in the general population (OR 1.2 (0.51-2.73)). Quality of life was substantially impaired in the patients; sum scores 30.0+/-8.0 (mean+/-SD) and 31.7+/-9.3 in the patient groups and 13.5+/-6.8 in the general population (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with post-giardiasis IBS suffer very little somatic comorbidity, suggesting that the aetiology of this form of postinfective IBS is predominantly biological in origin and may thus differ from the more common, non-postinfective forms of IBS. The combination of persisting abdominal symptoms and psychological distress might be a perpetuating factor contributing to low quality of life.

Plasma glucagon-like peptide 1 and peptide YY levels are not altered in symptomatic fructose-sorbitol malabsorption.

OBJECTIVE: Carbohydrate malabsorption causes more symptoms in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders than in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether this could be explained by differences in ileal brake hormone secretion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients with functional abdominal complaints, referred to our clinic for investigation of self-reported food hypersensitivity, were included in the study and compared with 15 healthy volunteers. All subjects ingested a mixture of 25 g fructose and 5 g sorbitol. Pulmonary hydrogen and methane excretion and plasma glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY) levels were measured during the next 3 h. Both habitual and post-test symptoms were assessed. RESULTS: Malabsorption of fructose and sorbitol was present in 61% of the patients and 73% of the controls. Nevertheless, the patients experienced significantly more symptoms following carbohydrate challenge, and 78% of the patients claimed that the challenge replicated their habitual gastrointestinal complaints. No significant differences in gas excretion or GLP-1 and PYY levels were found between patients and controls or between symptomatic and asymptomatic carbohydrate malabsorbers. A weak correlation between hydrogen excretion and PYY levels was demonstrated in non-producers of methane. CONCLUSIONS: Neither intestinal gas production nor ileal brake hormone secretion seems to play a role in the symptomatology of carbohydrate intolerance in patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity. Other mechanisms related to bacterial fermentation may be involved and should be investigated further.

Intestinal gas in plain abdominal radiographs does not correlate with symptoms after lactulose challenge.

OBSERVATION: Intestinal gas production and abdominal discomfort can be triggered by the ingestion of carbohydrates such as lactulose. Using plain abdominal radiographs, we studied whether subjective complaints after a lactulose breath test would be quantitatively related to intestinal gas volumes. METHODS: Abdominal symptoms after the breath test were quantified by a written questionnaire and gas volumes were scored in plain abdominal radiographs, in 50 consecutive patients with unexplained, irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms. Breath excretion of hydrogen and methane was determined in all patients. RESULTS: Forty-two (84%) of the patients claimed that their post-breath test symptoms were a true replicate of their customary discomfort. Total symptom scores (sum of scores for pain/discomfort, borborygmi, bloating, diarrhea, constipation) or any specific symptom score were not significantly correlated to gas volume scores (r=-0.04; P=0.8 for total symptom score). The 13 (26%) methane producers had significantly higher mean gas volume scores compared with nonproducers (0.38 vs. 0.24; P=0.0008), but fewer symptoms (total symptom score 11.9 vs. 18.2; P=0.17). CONCLUSION: Intestinal gas volume, as scored in plain abdominal radiographs, is not correlated with abdominal discomfort after lactulose challenge. Intestinal gas may not be the major cause of abdominal discomfort following carbohydrate ingestion in patients with functional gut disorders.

Intestinal fermentation in patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity: painful, but protective?

PURPOSE: Enterometabolic disturbances may cause meal-related symptoms. We performed a functional evaluation of the intestinal microflora in patients with unexplained, self-reported food hypersensitivity by measuring fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity and 15 healthy volunteers of similar age, gender, and body mass index collected all feces for 72 hours. Fecal concentrations of acetic, propionic, n-butyric, i-butyric, n-valeric, i-valeric, n-caproic, and i-caproic acids were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Concentrations and excretions (output) of SCFAs in patients and controls were compared and related to gastrointestinal symptoms. RESULTS: Despite nonsignificant differences between patients and controls for both total and individual SCFA concentrations and excretions, n-butyric acid comprised a higher (P = 0.035) and acetic acid a lower (P = 0.012) proportion of total SCFA in patients compared to controls. There were no significant correlations between symptom scores and concentrations or excretions of individual or total SCFAs, but the proportion of n-butyric acid was significantly higher in patients with severe symptoms compared to patients with moderate symptoms (P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: The results indicate an enterometabolic disturbance in patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity. Higher proportions of n-butyric acid may be related to abdominal symptom generation, but may also protect against organic bowel disease. Further studies are needed to clarify these aspects.

Lactulose breath test results in patients with persistent abdominal symptoms following Giardia lamblia infection.

OBJECTIVE: Bacterial overgrowth has been implicated in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The objective of this study was to investigate whether post-infectious IBS following Giardia lamblia infection is related to intestinal bacterial overgrowth, as diagnosed by the lactulose breath test (LBT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with persistent gastrointestinal complaints related to a recent outbreak of G. lamblia infection were included in the study. Despite one or several courses of treatment with metronidazole during the previous months, 23 of the patients were still stool positive for G. lamblia, whereas the remaining 54 patients had cleared the infection. All patients and 42 healthy volunteers underwent a LBT with 10 g lactulose, and their customary and post-LBT abdominal symptoms were scored. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent of the patients had IBS. Lactulose-induced hydrogen breath excretion was not significantly different in patients and controls. Customary and post-LBT symptoms were abnormally high in the patients, irrespective of both G. lamblia infection status and LBT results. Furthermore, lactulose challenge replicated the patients' customary complaints in 70% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal complaints in patients with persistent or cleared giardiasis were unrelated to hydrogen breath excretion after lactulose challenge. Post-giardiasis IBS cannot be ascribed to intestinal bacterial overgrowth, as diagnosed by LBT.

Persisting symptoms and duodenal inflammation related to Giardia duodenalis infection.

OBJECTIVES: After a large waterborne outbreak of Giardia infection in Bergen, some patients experienced persisting abdominal symptoms despite metronidazole treatment. This study aimed at investigating possible causes for their symptoms. METHODS: Over a 15 month period, 124 referred patients were evaluated in a prospective cohort analysis with a standardised investigation including duodenal biopsies and aspirate, blood tests and faecal parasite and calprotectin tests. Recovered subjects were recruited for symptom analysis. RESULTS: Persisting Giardia duodenalis infection was found in 40 patients (32.3%). Duodenal biopsies showed signs of inflammation in 57 patients (47.1%). Microscopic duodenal inflammation was present in 34 (87.2%) of the Giardia positive and 23 (28.0%) of the Giardia negative patients. There were significant associations between persistent Giardia positivity, microscopic duodenal inflammation and a positive calprotectin test. Duodenal aspirate and duodenal biopsies performed poorly in diagnosis of persistent giardiasis. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with persisting symptoms after metronidazole treated Giardia infection we commonly found chronic Giardia infection and microscopic duodenal inflammation, especially in illness duration less than 7 months. Both these findings subsided over time. Increasingly, investigations could not determine a definite cause for the persistent symptoms. The very long-term post-giardiasis diarrhoea, bloating, nausea and abdominal pain documented here need further study.