Nutritional interventions in older people with COVID-19: an overview of the evidence.

Older people are a high-risk group for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because of a range of factors, including age-related changes in anatomical pulmonary and muscle function, decreased immunity and increased inflammation. These factors partly explain why older people with COVID-19 experience more severe symptoms and higher mortality than younger adults and are more likely to require nutritional support. Furthermore, there is an association between suboptimal nutritional status and poorer recovery from COVID-19. Therefore, nutritional interventions are an important aspect of care for older people with COVID-19. All members of the multidisciplinary team, including dietitians and nurses, need to assess, treat and prevent nutritional deficiencies in older people with COVID-19. This literature review provides an overview of the evidence regarding the role of nutritional interventions in the treatment of, and recovery from, COVID-19 in older people.

A Comparison of Cognitive Functions and Nutritional Status in Nursing Home Residents and Community-Dwelling Elderly.

Objective: This descriptive and comparative study was conducted to determine the cognitive functions and nutritional status of nursing-home-residing and community-dwelling elderly. Methods: The study was carried out with a total of 204 elderly people who were community dwelling (n = 104) and nursing home residents (n = 100). Data were collected with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and standardized with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: Mean age of the nursing home residents and community-dwelling elderly people was 77.4 (SD = 6.7) years and 76.5 (SD = 7.4) years, respectively. Mean MMSE score was significantly different between nursing home residents (18.5 [SD = 4.5]) and community-dwelling elderly (22.1 [SD = 4.7]) (P < .05). Mean MNA score of nursing home residents (23.0 [SD = 3.7]) and community-dwelling elderly (24.6 [SD = 3.1]) was significantly different (P < .05). Conclusion: Nursing home residents were at risk of malnutrition and cognitive impairment. Precautions for the protection of the residents for maintaining nutritional status and cognitive functions were recommended.

What to eat for a better sleep in haemodialysis patients: Potential role of B vitamins intake and appetite.

OBJECTIVE: Sleeping disorders are common among Haemodialysis-HD patients. In addition to well-known factors, food consumption impact on sleep quality needs being discovered. Aim was to examine the nutrition-related factors that may influence sleep quality in HD patients. METHODS: One hundred and three patients in three HD centres participated. Data were collected with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-PSQI and Questionnaire Form about socio-demographic characteristics and appetite. Biochemical findings were obtained; food consumption for three consecutive days was recorded. Independent Samples t/Mann Whitney U tests for mean comparison; Logistic Regression Analysis for determining variables affecting sleep quality, were used. RESULTS: Mean age was 59.19±14.57 years. 51.5% were women. 37.9% had good (PSQI<5) and 62.1% had poor (PSQI≥5) sleep quality. Appetite had significant impact on sleep quality; poor sleeping risk was 4.194 fold higher in patients with bad appetite than those with good appetite (p=0.038). Biochemical findings of poor and good sleepers were similar, except for potassium and creatinine. Vitamins B1, B6 and folate intake of good and poor sleepers were significantly different. Patients with good sleep quality consumed significantly higher amounts of above B vitamins (p=0.030, p=0.036, p=0.034, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Favourable effect of appetite and certain nutrients intake on sleep quality in HD patients was shown. Improving nutritional status of HD patients has potential to increase their sleep quality.

Evaluation of Nutritional Status of Patients with Depression.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to determine nutritional status, body composition, and biochemical parameters of patients diagnosed with depression based on DSM-IV-TR criteria. METHODS: A total of 59 individuals, aged 18-60 years admitted to Mental Health Centre of Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, were included in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups; depression group (n = 29) and control group (n = 30). Anthropometric measurements, some biochemical parameters, demographic data, and 24-hour dietary recall were evaluated. RESULTS: 65.5% of depression and 60.0% of control group were female. Intake of vitamins A, thiamine, riboflavin, B6, folate, C, Na, K, Mg, Ca, P, Fe, Zn, and fibre (p < 0.05) were lower in depression group. Median levels of body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (p < 0.05) were significantly higher in depression group. Fasting blood glucose levels, serum vitamins B12, and folic acid (p < 0.05) in depression group were lower than controls. Serum insulin and HOMA levels of two groups were similar. CONCLUSION: Some vitamin B consumption and serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels were low while signs of abdominal obesity were high among patients with depression. Future research exploring nutritional status of individuals with depression is warranted.

Nutritional status and dietary intake of institutionalized elderly in Turkey: a cross-sectional, multi-center, country representative study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional status and dietary intake of institutionalized elderly in Turkey. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: 25 institutions in 19 cities throughout Turkey. PARTICIPANTS: Elderly residents aged 65 years and older (n=554). MEASUREMENTS: Nutritional status using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), food consumption with 24-h dietary recall and anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, waist/hip ratio, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)). RESULTS: The mean age of the elderly was 76.1±7.3 years. BMI of elderly men and women were found to be 26.59±4.58kg/m(2) and 30.07±6.32kg/m(2), respectively. WC of elderly men and women were found to be 98.90±1.33cm and 100.62±1.34cm, respectively. Most of the elderly were overweight based on BMI and at risk of metabolic diseases based on WC. According to MNA, 44.2% had normal nutritional status, 49.1% were at risk of malnutrition, 6.7% had malnutrition. All nutrients intake was favorable according to requirements, except for calcium and magnesium. Energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins A, E, B1, B2, B6, C folat, iron, zinc intake of elderly who had normal nutritional status, who were at risk of malnutrition and malnourished were significantly different. Energy and nutrients intake of elderly who had normal nutritional status was found to be better than the others. CONCLUSION: Nutritional status should be periodically screened in the institutionalized elderly to prevent malnutrition. Also, it was noted that adequate energy and nutrients intake of the elderly played a crucial role in maintaining nutritional status and preventing malnutrition within residential homes.

Comparing school lunch and canteen foods consumption of children in kayseri, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: School Nutrition Programs (SNPs) may have positive effects on children's food choices through high nutritional quality meals. This cross-sectional & descriptive study was conducted to determine nutritional quality of school lunch and to compare lunch consumption of students who participated in SNP and who did not, at the first governmental school serving school lunch in Kayseri, Turkey. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen students aged 9-14 years were divided into two groups after being matched according to gender, age, grade; 58 participants (school lunch group; SL-G) and 58 nonparticipants (school canteen group; SC-G) were recruited. Energy-nutrient content of 5-day school lunch was determined by recipes. Socio-demographic data and lunch consumption on 5 consecutive weekdays with weighed left overs were obtained. Lunch energy-nutrient intakes and anthropometric measurements were compared. RESULTS: School lunch was adequate for vitamins (E & C), fibre, iron, inadequate for energy, carbohydrate, folate, calcium. Contribution of fat (36.6±6.8%) and saturated fat (12.2±3.5%) to energy and sodium content was high (1001 mg) in school lunch. SL-G consumed significantly higher protein, vitamin C, thiamine, vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc (p<0.001 for each) than SC-G. Energy (p<0.001), carbohydrate (p<0.001), fat (p<0.05), vitamin E (p<0.001) intakes of SC-G were significantly higher than SL-G. Body weights, height, body mass index of groups were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Foodservice at school should be revised with collaboration of school management, catering firm, dietetic professionals. Policy should focus on reducing fat, saturated fat, sodium content and meeting energy-nutrient requirements of school aged children.

Obesity prevalence, waist-to-height ratio and associated factors in adult Turkish males.

SUMMARY: This study was performed to determine the obesity prevalence and associated risk factors in aged 20 and over years old males living in 11 towns in Kayseri, Turkey between July and August 2007. 1530 men were recruited, of which 6 were excluded because of incomplete information. Data were collected by a questionnaire. Body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Body mass index (BMI) of 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2) was accepted as overweight and above 30 kg/m(2) as obesity, waist-to-hip ratio (WHpR) > 1.0 and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) ≥ 0.5 were accepted as abdominal obesity. Chi-square and logistic regression tests were performed. According to BMI, overweight and obesity prevalences were 39.6% and 16.9%, respectively. Obesity prevalence was 29.9% (50-59 years) according to WHpR, 50.4% (60-69 years) according to waist circumference (WC) and 24.8% (40-49 years) according to WHtR. The logistic regression analysis revealed age of 60-69 years, being a graduate from university, being widowed and having positive familial history of obesity as risk factors of having BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2). In conclusion, obesity is a serious issue for the males residing in Kayseri and among the anthropometric measurements WHtR is a simple and effective index to identify health related risks even in male of younger ages.: