Longitudinal changes in phase angle by bioimpedance in intensive care patients differ between survivors and non-survivors.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Intensive care (ICU) patients suffer from metabolic stress, creating a catabolic state which might disturb nutritional status and body composition. Alterations in body fluid compartments by disease or massive volume resuscitation could invalidate bioimpedance hydrometry. Still bioimpedance might give other information. METHODS: 52 ICU patients (35 male, 17 female, mean age 66 years), BMI 29,2 were assessed by bioimpedance spectroscopy. Phase angle (PhA) at 50 kHz was assessed. RESULTS: On first assessment PhA was 3.7 ± 1.0°. In 26 patients reassessed after median 5 days PhA was not significantly changed, although R 50 kHz and Xc 50 kHz both increased (p = 0.047), indicating diminishing overhydration. Body weight and body cell mass decreased by 1.8 ± 5.7 and 2.8 ± 7.5 kg (p = 0.13). Fat free mass and extracellular water decreased 4.5 ± 8.9 kg (p = 0.032) and 1.5 ± 3.5 kg (p = 0.031), while CRP decreased 63 mg/l (p = 0.002). In 17 survivors PhA increased 0.62 ± 1.24° (NS), while in 9 non-survivors PhA decreased 0.24 ± 0.82° (p = 0.06), with 0.86° difference (p = 0.049) between groups. CONCLUSION: Phase angle by bioimpedance is very low in ICU patients and positive changes in PhA seems to reflect more favorable outcome. Bioimpedance by Body Scout appears unsuitable for the assessment of fat free mass or overhydration in ICU patients.

Body composition in overweight and obese women postpartum: bioimpedance methods validated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and doubly labeled water.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity, pregnancy and lactation all affect body composition. Simple methods to estimate body composition are useful in clinical practice and to evaluate interventions. In overweight and obese lactating women, such methods are not fully validated. The objective of this study was to validate the accuracy and precision of bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) by Xitron 4200 and 8-electrode multifrequency impedance (multifrequency bioimpedance analysis, MFBIA) by Tanita MC180MA with the reference methods dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and doubly labeled water (DLW) for the assessment of body composition in 70 overweight and obese women postpartum. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The LEVA-study (Lifestyle for Effective Weight loss during lactation) consisted of an intervention and follow-up with three assessments at 3, 6 and 15 months postpartum, which made possible the validation of both accuracy and precision. Mean differences between methods were tested by a paired t-test and Bland-Altman plots for systematic bias. RESULTS: At baseline, BIS and MFBIA underestimated fat mass (FM) by 2.6±2.8 and 8.0±4.2 kg compared with DXA (P<0.001) but without systematic bias. BIS and MFBIA overestimated total body water (TBW) by 2.4±2.2 and 4.4±3.2 kg (P<0.001) compared with DLW, with slight systematic bias by BIS. BIS correctly estimated muscle mass without systematic bias (P>0.05). BIS overestimated changes in TBW (P=0.01) without systematic bias, whereas MFBIA varied greatly and with systematic bias. CONCLUSIONS: BIS underestimates mean FM compared with DXA but can detect mean changes in body composition, although with large limits of agreement. BIS both accurately and precisely estimates muscle mass in overweight and obese women postpartum. MFBIA underestimates FM and overestimates TBW by proprietary equations compared with DXA and DLW.

Estimation of body fluids with bioimpedance spectroscopy: state of the art methods and proposal of novel methods.

Determination of body fluids is a useful common practice in determination of disease mechanisms and treatments. Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) methods are non-invasive, inexpensive and rapid alternatives to reference methods such as tracer dilution. However, they are indirect and their robustness and validity are unclear. In this article, state of the art methods are reviewed, their drawbacks identified and new methods are proposed. All methods were tested on a clinical database of patients receiving growth hormone replacement therapy. Results indicated that most BIS methods are similarly accurate (e.g. < 0.5 ± 3.0% mean percentage difference for total body water) for estimation of body fluids. A new model for calculation is proposed that performs equally well for all fluid compartments (total body water, extra- and intracellular water). It is suggested that the main source of error in extracellular water estimation is due to anisotropy, in total body water estimation to the uncertainty associated with intracellular resistivity and in determination of intracellular water a combination of both.

Diagnostic criteria for malnutrition - An ESPEN Consensus Statement.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a consensus-based minimum set of criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition to be applied independent of clinical setting and aetiology, and to unify international terminology. METHOD: The European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) appointed a group of clinical scientists to perform a modified Delphi process, encompassing e-mail communications, face-to-face meetings, in group questionnaires and ballots, as well as a ballot for the ESPEN membership. RESULT: First, ESPEN recommends that subjects at risk of malnutrition are identified by validated screening tools, and should be assessed and treated accordingly. Risk of malnutrition should have its own ICD Code. Second, a unanimous consensus was reached to advocate two options for the diagnosis of malnutrition. Option one requires body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) <18.5 to define malnutrition. Option two requires the combined finding of unintentional weight loss (mandatory) and at least one of either reduced BMI or a low fat free mass index (FFMI). Weight loss could be either >10% of habitual weight indefinite of time, or >5% over 3 months. Reduced BMI is <20 or <22 kg/m(2) in subjects younger and older than 70 years, respectively. Low FFMI is <15 and <17 kg/m(2) in females and males, respectively. About 12% of ESPEN members participated in a ballot; >75% agreed; i.e. indicated ≥7 on a 10-graded scale of acceptance, to this definition. CONCLUSION: In individuals identified by screening as at risk of malnutrition, the diagnosis of malnutrition should be based on either a low BMI (<18.5 kg/m(2)), or on the combined finding of weight loss together with either reduced BMI (age-specific) or a low FFMI using sex-specific cut-offs.

Slightly superior performance of bioimpedance spectroscopy over single frequency regression equations for assessment of total body water.

Electrical bioimpedance has been used for several decades to assess body fluid distribution and body composition by using single frequency and bioimpedance spectroscopic (BIS) techniques. It remains uncertain whether BIS methods have better performance compare to single frequency regression equations. In this work the performance of two BIS methods and four different 50 kHz single frequency prediction equations was studied in a data set of wrist-to-ankle tetrapolar BIS measurements (5-1000 kHz) together with reference values of total body water obtained by tritium dilution in 92 patients. Data were compared using regression techniques and Bland-Altman plots. The results of this study showed that all methods produced similarly high correlation and concordance coefficients, indicating good accuracy as a method. Limits of agreement analysis indicated that the population level performance of Sun's prediction equations was very similar to the performance of both BIS methods. However, BIS methods in practice have slightly better predictive performance than the single-frequency equations as judged by higher correlation and the limits of agreement from the Bland-Altman analysis. In any case, the authors believe that an accurate evaluation of performance of the methods cannot be done as long as the evaluation is done using Bland-Altman analysis, the commonly accepted technique for this kind of performance comparisons.

Body composition by dual-energy X-ray spectrometry and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy in a healthy population at age 75 and 80.

OBJECTIVE: Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) is a versatile field tool to obtain information about body composition (BC), if prediction equations are available that are valid for the group under consideration. We aimed to validate prediction equations for total body skeletal muscle mass (TBSMM) developed in healthy 75-year olds from the Gothenburg area (Sweden) in a similar sample examined at age 80. We give new prediction equations for fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), and TBSMM that are based on the entire group of elderly subjects, using values from Dual-energy X-ray spectrometry (DXA) as reference standard. Finally, we describe the longitudinal change in BC in the subset of subjects, who participated at both age 75 and 80. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Body composition was measured by DXA and multiple-frequency BIS at age 75 (n = 111) and 80 (n = 91) years. Ordinary and mixed linear regression was used to examine previous and new prediction equations. Longitudinal change was assessed by paired sample t-test. RESULTS: The prediction equations for TBSMM developed in 75-year old subjects showed good validity when applied to the sample of 80 year olds. The results were independent of the presence of a metal prosthesis in hip or knee. New, sex-specific prediction equations for FM, FFM, and TBSMM were derived for 75 - 80 year-old subjects that further improved the accuracy of prediction. Using DXA-derived BC at ages 75 and 80, we observed a decline in TBSMM in both sexes, which was mainly due to muscle loss in the legs. In men, the decrease in trunk FFM was accompanied by an increase in FM, leaving no overall weight change in the trunk. When the 5-year change in TBSMM was based on longitudinal BIS measurements, the results from DXA were reproduced only when the prediction was based on BIS-values at 50 kHz. CONCLUSIONS: Good cross-sectional validity of BIS equations for TBSMM was found in a population sample of 80-year olds. The presence of a metal prosthesis did not influence the quality of prediction. New prediction equations for FM, FFM, and TBSMM need to be evaluated in an independent sample.

Body composition through adult life: Swedish reference data on body composition.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) ⩾30 kg/m(2), differs between populations; however, there is a need for data on description on body composition in reference populations of different ages and from different countries. The objective of this study was to pool dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition reference data from population-based Swedish cohorts. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Four population-based cross-sectional cohort studies including 1424 adult Swedes were divided into five age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-61 and 75 years of age); BMI 24.6±3.9 kg/m(2) were pooled. Body composition was measured with DXA. RESULTS: The difference in BMI from the youngest to the oldest age group was 3.2 and 4.3 kg/m(2) in men and women, respectively (P<0.001, both sexes), and fat mass (FM) was 9.9 and 9.1% higher in the oldest compared with the youngest men and women (P<0.001, both sexes). Fat-free mass (FFM) remained stable up to 60 years of age in men (P=0.83) and was lower at 75 years of age compared with the younger ages. In women, FFM was lower from age 60. From youngest to oldest age groups, height-adjusted FM differed from 4.6 to 7.8 kg/m(2) in men and from 6.8 to 10.8 kg/m(2) in women (P<0.001, both sexes). CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide reference data on body composition in Swedish populations. BMI and FM were higher among older age groups compared with the younger ones. FFM remained stable up to 60 years of age and was lower first among the 75 years of age.

Nutrition impact symptoms and body composition in patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Anorexia or lack of appetite is common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may be caused or augmented by several symptoms affecting appetite and eating. We aimed to investigate and quantify the extent of nutrition impact symptoms (NIS) in patients with COPD and to explore relationships between NIS and fat-free mass depletion. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The results in this cross-sectional study are based on 169 COPD patients (62% female subjects). Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy and the patients reported NIS by two newly developed questionnaires: the Eating Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ) and the Disease-Related Appetite Questionnaire (DRAQ). RESULTS: Symptoms with the highest prevalence were dry mouth (71%), stomach ache (39%), pain or aches affecting appetite (36%) and constipation (35%). Problems with diarrhoea and feeling affected by smells were more severe among women compared with men (P<0.05). Thirty-six percent of the patients were depleted (fat-free mass index (FFMI) <15 kg/m2 for women and FFMI<16 kg/m2 for men). Depleted patients had more NIS (P<0.05) and also rated appetite and taste of food as worse compared with non-depleted patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NIS are common in patients with COPD, and depleted patients have more severe symptoms. To investigate how these symptoms are best prevented and/or managed and whether NIS prevention/treatment can affect development of malnutrition in patients with COPD is a challenge for the future.

Robustness study of the different immittance spectra and frequency ranges in bioimpedance spectroscopy analysis for assessment of total body composition.

The estimation of body fluids is a useful and common practice for assessment of disease status and therapy outcomes. Electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy (EBIS) methods are noninvasive, inexpensive and efficient alternatives for determination of body fluids. One of the main source of errors in EBIS measurements in the estimation of body fluids is capacitive coupling. In this paper an analysis of capacitive coupling in EBIS measurements was performed and the robustness of the different immittance spectra against it tested. On simulations the conductance (G) spectrum presented the smallest overall error, among all immittance spectra, in the estimation of the impedance parameters used to estimate body fluids. Afterwards the frequency range of 10-500 kHz showed to be the most robust band of the G spectrum. The accuracy of body fluid estimations from the resulting parameters that utilized G spectrum and parameters provided by the measuring device were tested on EBIS clinical measurements from growth hormone replacement therapy patients against estimations performed with dilution methods. Regarding extracellular fluid, the correlation between each EBIS method and dilution was 0.93 with limits of agreement of 1.06 ± 2.95 l for the device, 1.10 ± 2.94 l for G [10-500 kHz] and 1.04 ± 2.94 l for G [5-1000 kHz]. Regarding intracellular fluid, the correlation between dilution and the device was 0.91, same as for G [10-500 kHz] and 0.92 for G [5-1000 kHz]. Limits of agreement were 0.12 ± 4.46 l for the device, 0.09 ± 4.45 for G [10-500 kHz] and 0.04 ± 4.58 for G [5-1000 kHz]. Such close results between the EBIS methods validate the proposed approach of using G spectrum for initial Cole characterization and posterior clinical estimation of body fluids status.

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis in out-patients with intestinal failure.

BACKGROUND: In intestinal failure, specific nutrient deficiencies especially for fat-soluble vitamins can be expected in addition to energy-protein malnutrition. We report serum levels of fat soluble vitamins, and bone density in out-patients with intestinal failure (IF). METHODS: 106 outpatients with IF were assessed during routine visits. 78 patients underwent DXA-scan for bone density. Vitamin D levels < 50 nmol/l were defined as deficiency, and 75-150 as optimal. Vitamin A and E deficiencies were defined as <1.0 and <14 µmol/l respectively. INR ≥ 1.2 without liver disease or anti-vitamin K therapy was classified as vitamin K deficiency. RESULTS: Mean serum vitamin D level was 45 nmol/l at first visit, and 64 nmol/l at follow up (n = 76, p = 0.0001 by paired t-test). Overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 67%. Only 12% of all patients had optimal D-vitamin status. 88% of assessed patients had low bone density. 12% had subnormal vitamin A levels and 25% had subnormal vitamin E levels. 32% had abnormal INR values. At follow up 34% remained vitamin D deficient whereas 29% had optimal levels. By oral substitution, vitamin A and E status were normalised, and K status improved. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis are common in outpatients with intestinal failure, and should be adequately substituted.

Decreased energy density and changes in food selection following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The main objective was to test the hypothesis that dietary energy density (DED) decreases after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (gastric bypass). SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 43 patients (31 women and 12 men) aged 43 (s.d. 10) years, with body mass index (BMI) 44.3 kg/m(2) (4.9), were assessed preoperatively at 6 weeks and 1 and 2 years after gastric bypass. Self-reported energy intake (EI), food weight (FW) and food choice were assessed using a dietary questionnaire. DED was calculated by dividing EI by FW (kcal/g). Number of dropouts was 4 of 203 visits. RESULTS: Percent weight loss (%WL) was 13.5% at 6 weeks, 30.7% at 1 year and 31.8% at 2 years post surgery (P<0.001 for all). EI decreased from 2990 to 1774, 2131 and 2425 kcal after 6 weeks and 1 and 2 years postoperatively, respectively (P<0.001 at all time points). FW changed from 2844 to 1870 g/day at 6 weeks (P<0.001) and 2416 g/day after 1 year (P<0.05), but was not significantly different from baseline 2 years postoperatively (2602 g/day, P=0.105). DED decreased from 1.07 to 0.78 kcal/g at 6 weeks (P<0.001) and 0.90 kcal/g (P<0.001) and 0.96 kcal/g (P=0.001) after 1 and 2 years, respectively. All statistical comparisons were made from baseline. There was no correlation between changes in DED and %WL, neither after 1 year (r=-0.215; P=0.183) nor after 2 years (r=-0.046; P=0.775) post surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Besides substantial reduction in EI and large variation in FW, patients reported decreased DED over 2 years following gastric bypass. Despite lack of association between the reduction in DED and percentage weight loss, changes in food choice were overall nutritionally beneficial.

Changes in eating behaviour and meal pattern following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about eating behaviour and meal pattern subsequent to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), knowledge important for the nutritional care process. The objective of the study was to obtain basic information of how meal size, eating rate, meal frequency and eating behaviour change upon the RYGB surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Voluntary chosen meal size and eating rate were measured in a longitudinal, within subject, cohort study of 43 patients, 31 women and 12 men, age 42.6 (s.d. 9.7) years, body mass index (BMI) 44.5 (4.9) kg m(-2). Thirty-one non-obese subjects, 37.8 (13.6) years, BMI 23.7 (2.7) kg m(-2) served as a reference group. All subjects completed a meal pattern questionnaire and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21). RESULTS: Six weeks postoperatively meal size was 42% of the preoperative meal size, (P<0.001). After 1 and 2 years, meal size increased but was still lower than preoperative size 57% (P<0.001) and 66% (P<0.001), respectively. Mean meal duration was constant before and after surgery. Mean eating rate measured as amount consumed food per minute was 45% of preoperative eating rate 6 weeks postoperatively (P<0.001). After 1 and 2 years, eating rate increased to 65% (P<0.001) and 72% (P<0.001), respectively, of preoperative rate. Number of meals per day increased from 4.9 (95% confidence interval, 4.4,5.4) preoperatively to 6 weeks: 5.2 (4.9,5.6), (not significant), 1 year 5.8 (5.5,6.1), (P=0.003), and 2 years 5.4 (5.1,5.7), (not significant). Emotional and uncontrolled eating were significantly decreased postoperatively, (both P<0.001 at all-time points), while cognitive restraint was only transiently increased 6 weeks postoperatively (P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Subsequent to RYGB, patients display markedly changed eating behaviour and meal patterns, which may lead to sustained weight loss.

Consensus definition of sarcopenia, cachexia and pre-cachexia: joint document elaborated by Special Interest Groups (SIG) "cachexia-anorexia in chronic wasting diseases" and "nutrition in geriatrics".

Chronic diseases as well as aging are frequently associated with deterioration of nutritional status, loss muscle mass and function (i.e. sarcopenia), impaired quality of life and increased risk for morbidity and mortality. Although simple and effective tools for the accurate screening, diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition have been developed during the recent years, its prevalence still remains disappointingly high and its impact on morbidity, mortality and quality of life clinically significant. Based on these premises, the Special Interest Group (SIG) on cachexia-anorexia in chronic wasting diseases was created within ESPEN with the aim of developing and spreading the knowledge on the basic and clinical aspects of cachexia and anorexia as well as of increasing the awareness of cachexia among health professionals and care givers. The definition, the assessment and the staging of cachexia, were identified as a priority by the SIG. This consensus paper reports the definition of cachexia, pre-cachexia and sarcopenia as well as the criteria for the differentiation between cachexia and other conditions associated with sarcopenia, which have been developed in cooperation with the ESPEN SIG on nutrition in geriatrics.

Bioelectric impedance spectroscopy underestimates fat-free mass compared to dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in incurable cancer patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Weight loss is frequently seen in advanced cancer. Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) is a convenient method for estimating body composition. We examined in a prospective, comparative study if BIS could accurately estimate fat-free mass (FFM) in cancer patients compared to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was based on 132 consecutive incurable cancer patients with solid tumours in a University hospital outpatient clinic. Comparison of FFM from DXA and BIS with standard and revised equations. Bland-Altman plots, t-tests and linear regression analysis were used to evaluate agreement and differences between methods. RESULTS: BIS significantly underestimated mean FFM with 7.6+/-4.7 kg compared to DXA (P<0.001). Bias was significantly correlated to % weight loss (r=0.32), systemic inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein (r=0.29), malnutrition as assessed by low insulin-like growth factor-1 (r=-0.23) and inversely to the per cent body fat estimated by DXA (P=-0.61) and body mass index (BMI; r=-0.30). Revised BIS equations taking BMI into account reduced bias significantly but still with great individual variation. CONCLUSIONS: BIS by standard equations grossly underestimates FFM compared to DXA in cancer patients. This bias is related to weight loss, malnutrition and systemic inflammation. Revised equations improved FFM estimates, but with large individual variation. Thus, BIS with standard equations is not suitable to estimate FFM in patients with cachexia, inflammation and malnutrition.

Biochemical indices to evaluate nutritional support for malignant disease.

Malignant diseases are often complicated by malnutrition, and nutritional support is often indicated. Nutritional support should be evaluated primarily by improved clinical outcome. During nutritional support as artificial nutrition, monitoring is of paramount importance. Several biochemical markers are frequently used to monitor nutritional status. Most widely used are serum levels of albumin, transferrin, and transthyretin which are subnormal in malnutrition. Unfortunately, monitoring nutritional support by biochemical indices in malignant disease is complicated by the pathophysiology of cancer related malnutrition. Systemic inflammation is central in this context as it perturbs most of the traditional biochemical indices, and is inversely correlated to survival. In addition, systemic inflammation explains variations in body composition. Thus, the most important biochemical index to be measured in malignant disease is the assessment of systemic inflammatory response, preferably by high-resolution CRP, and if normal, common biochemical indices such as albumin, transferrin or transthyretin might be used. Preferentially, indices with high turnover should be used. IGF-1 is an index well suited for assessing nutrition support in conventional malnutrition, but its use in malignant disease is still unproved. If APPR is prevalent, methods detecting changes in body composition, performance or physical activity might offer better options to evaluate nutritional support.

Nutritional aspects in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders and motor dysfunction in the gut. Working team report of the Swedish Motility Group (SMoG).

In reviews regarding the management of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders and motility disturbances within the gut nutritional aspects and dietary advice is often put forward as being of great importance. However, there are relatively few high-quality, interventional studies in the literature supporting an important role for general dietary advice to improve symptoms in these patients. Nutritional supplementation to patients with malnutrition due to severe dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract is of course less controversial, even though different views on how this should be performed exist. The content of this article is based on presentations given by the authors during the second meeting of the Swedish Motility Group held in Gothenburg in March 2005, and aims to give an overview on the role of dietary advice and nutritional supplementation to patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction of different severity.

A 10-year, prospective study of the metabolic effects of growth hormone replacement in adults.

CONTEXT: Only a few studies have investigated the effects of GH replacement in adults for more than 5 yr. OBJECTIVE/DESIGN/PATIENTS: In a prospective, open-label, single-center study, the effects of 10-yr GH replacement were determined. Eighty-seven consecutive patients (52 men and 35 women), with a mean age of 44.1 (range 22-74) yr with adult-onset GH deficiency (GHD) were included. RESULTS: The initial mean dose of GH (0.98 mg/d) was reduced during the study and at yr 10 was 0.47 mg/d. The mean IGF-I sd score increased from -1.81 at baseline to 1.29 at study end. The absolute reduction in total body fat was transient. However, after correction for age and sex using a four-compartment model, the reduction in body fat was sustained during the 10-yr study period. There was a sustained improvement in serum lipid profile and after 10 yr, and blood glycosylated hemoglobin level was reduced. The treatment responses in IGF-I sd score, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and body composition as measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry were more marked in men, whereas women had a more marked reduction in blood glycosylated hemoglobin level. CONCLUSION: The effect on the absolute amount of body fat was seen early and was transient, which could be due to the normal aging of the patients. The effects on metabolic indices were detected later, but they were sustained and even progressive throughout the study period.

Ten-year GH replacement increases bone mineral density in hypopituitary patients with adult onset GH deficiency.

UNLABELLED: There are few studies that have determined the effects of long-term GH replacement on bone mineral density (BMD) in GH-deficient (GHD) adults. In this study, the effects of 10 years of GH replacement on BMD were assessed in 87 GHD adults using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The results show that GH replacement induced a sustained increase in BMD at all the skeletal sites measured. INTRODUCTION: Little is known of the effect of more than 5 years of GH replacement therapy on bone metabolism in GHD adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective, open-label, single-center study, which included 87 consecutive adults (52 men and 35 women; mean age of 44.1 (range 22-74) years) with adulthood onset GHD, the effect of 10 years of GH replacement on BMD was determined. RESULTS: The mean initial dose of GH was 0.98 mg/day. The dose was gradually lowered and after 10 years the mean dose was 0.47 mg/day. The mean insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) SDS increased from 1.81 at baseline to 1.29 at study end. The GH replacement induced a sustained increase in total, lumbar (L2-L4) and femur neck BMD, and bone mineral content (BMC) as measured by DEXA. The treatment response in IGF-I SDS was more marked in men, whereas women had a more marked increase in the total body BMC and the total body z-score. There was a tendency for women on estrogen treatment to have a larger increase in bone mass and density compared with women without estrogen replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Ten years of GH replacement in hypopituitary adults induced a sustained, and in some variables even a progressive, increase in bone mass and bone density. The study results also suggest that adequate estrogen replacement is needed in order to have an optimal response in BMD in GHD women.

Patients' subjective symptoms, quality of life and intake of food during the recovery period 3 and 12 months after upper gastrointestinal surgery.

Few studies describe patients' quality of life and their experienced symptoms during the recovery period after having undergone upper gastrointestinal surgery at 3 and 12 months. The aims of this study were to explore patients' quality of life and symptoms preoperatively and at 3 and 12 months following upper gastrointestinal surgery and to describe and compare patients' experiences of appetite, food intake, weight changes, tiredness and sleeping patterns. A descriptive and comparative quantitative design was used. Three instruments were used: the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Eating Dysfunction Scale. A questionnaire was used to investigate symptoms such as mood, appetite, sleep, activities and well-being. Twenty-four patients were included in the study. The major results were that anxiety levels and global health status decreased and that patients felt more disappointed after 12 months compared with after 3 months. Four patients at 3 months after surgery and eight patients at 12 months regained their weight compared with the situation before surgery. The contribution of nursing care activities focusing on the importance of food intake and the patients' current and historical medical records in relation to their health status should continue to be examined and researched over a longer period of time.

Rapeseed oil, olive oil, plant sterols, and cholesterol metabolism: an ileostomy study.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether olive oil and rapeseed oil have different effects on cholesterol metabolism. DESIGN: Short-term experimental study, with controlled diets. SETTING: Outpatients at a metabolic-ward kitchen. SUBJECTS: A total of nine volunteers with conventional ileostomies. INTERVENTIONS: Two 3-day diet periods; controlled diet including 75 g of rapeseed oil or olive oil. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cholesterol absorption, ileal excretion of cholesterol, and bile acids. Serum levels of cholesterol and bile acid metabolites. Differences between diets evaluated with Wilcoxon's signed rank sum test. RESULTS: Rapeseed oil diet contained 326 mg more plant sterols than the olive oil diet. Rapeseed oil tended to decrease cholesterol absorption by 11% (P = 0.050), and increased excretion of cholesterol, bile acids, and their sum as sterols by 9% (P = 0.021), 32% (P = 0.038), and 51% (P = 0.011) compared to olive oil. A serum marker for bile acid synthesis (7alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one) increased by 28% (P = 0.038) within 10 h of consumption, and serum cholesterol levels decreased by 7% (P = 0.024), whereas a serum marker for cholesterol synthesis (lathosterol) as well as serum levels of plant sterols remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Rapeseed oil and olive oil have different effects on cholesterol metabolism. Rapeseed oil, tends to decrease cholesterol absorption, increases excretion of cholesterol and bile acids, increases serum marker of bile acid synthesis, and decreases serum levels of cholesterol compared to olive oil. This could in part be explained by different concentrations of natural plant sterols. SPONSORSHIP: Supported by the Göteborg Medical Society, the Swedish Medical Society, the Swedish Board for Agricultural Research (SJFR) grant 50.0444/98 and by University of Göteborg.