Meal timing and frequency implications in the development and prognosis of chronic kidney disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher risk of death than the general population, the main cause being cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nutrition plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of CVD and kidney diseases. Currently, new evidence reinforces the importance of specific foods and general dietary patterns rather than isolated nutrients for cardiovascular risk. In addition, dietary patterns and healthy eating habits seem extremely relevant in decreasing risk factors. Epidemiologic and clinical intervention studies have suggested that late-night dinner and skipping breakfast are associated with an increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and CVD. In CKD, despite important changes in nutritional counseling in recent decades, less attention has been paid to meal timing and frequency. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss the evidence of meal timing and frequency in CKD development and prognosis, presented under three main topics: risk of developing CKD, importance of dietary habits, and implications of fasting.

Associations among body composition, inflammatory profile and disease extent in ulcerative colitis patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess body composition status and its association with inflammatory profile and extent of intestinal damage in ulcerative colitis patients during clinical remission. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study in which body composition data (phase angle [PhA], fat mass [FM], triceps skin fold thickness [TSFt], mid-arm circumference [MAC], mid-arm muscle circumference [MAMC], adductor pollicis muscle thickness [APMt]), inflammatory profile (C-reactive protein [CRP], a1-acid glycoprotein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]) and disease extent were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of the 59 patients was 48.1 years; 53.3% were women. Most patients were in clinical remission (94.9%) and 3.4% was malnourished according to body mass index. PhA was inversely correlated with inflammatory markers such as CRP (R=-0.59; p<0.001) and ESR (R=-0.46; p<0.001) and directly correlated with lean mass: MAMC (R=0.31; p=0.01) and APMt (R=0.47; p<0.001). Lean mass was inversely correlated with non-specific inflammation marker (APMt vs. ESR) and directly correlated with hemoglobin values (MAMC vs. hemoglobin). Logistic regression analysis revealed that body cell mass was associated with disease extent (OR 0.92; 95CI 0.87-0.97; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: PhA was inversely correlated with inflammatory markers and directly correlated with lean mass. Acute inflammatory markers were correlated with disease extent. Body cell mass was associated with disease extent.

Associations among body composition, inflammatory profile and disease extent in ulcerative colitis patients / Associações entre composição corporal, perfil inflamatório e extensão da doença em pacientes com retocolite ulcerativa

Summary Objective: The aim of our study was to assess body composition status and its association with inflammatory profile and extent of intestinal damage in ulcerative colitis patients during clinical remission. Method: This is a cross-sectional study in which body composition data (phase angle [PhA], fat mass [FM], triceps skin fold thickness [TSFt], mid-arm circumference [MAC], mid-arm muscle circumference [MAMC], adductor pollicis muscle thickness [APMt]), inflammatory profile (C-reactive protein [CRP], a1-acid glycoprotein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]) and disease extent were recorded. Results: The mean age of the 59 patients was 48.1 years; 53.3% were women. Most patients were in clinical remission (94.9%) and 3.4% was malnourished according to body mass index. PhA was inversely correlated with inflammatory markers such as CRP (R=-0.59; p<0.001) and ESR (R=-0.46; p<0.001) and directly correlated with lean mass: MAMC (R=0.31; p=0.01) and APMt (R=0.47; p<0.001). Lean mass was inversely correlated with non-specific inflammation marker (APMt vs. ESR) and directly correlated with hemoglobin values (MAMC vs. hemoglobin). Logistic regression analysis revealed that body cell mass was associated with disease extent (OR 0.92; 95CI 0.87-0.97; p<0.01). Conclusion: PhA was inversely correlated with inflammatory markers and directly correlated with lean mass. Acute inflammatory markers were correlated with disease extent. Body cell mass was associated with disease extent.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a composição corporal de pacientes portadores de retocolite ulcerativa em remissão clínica e sua associação com o perfil inflamatório e a extensão da lesão intestinal. Método: Foi realizado um estudo transversal. Os dados relacionados à composição corporal foram ângulo de fase (AF), massa adiposa (MA), dobra cutânea triciptal (DCT), circunferência do braço (CB), circunferência muscular do braço (CMB) e espessura do músculo adutor do polegar (EMAP). O perfil inflamatório foi avaliado através da dosagem da proteína-C reativa (PCR), a1-glicoproteína ácida e velocidade de hemossedimentação (VHS) e a extensão da doença foi avaliada de acordo com o exame endoscópico. Resultados: Foram avaliados 59 pacientes. A média de idade foi de 48,1 anos e 53,3% eram mulheres. A maioria dos pacientes (94,9%) estava em remissão clínica da doença e 3,4% foi classificada como desnutrida de acordo com o IMC. Observou-se uma correlação inversa entre AF e marcadores inflamatórios como a PCR (R=-0,59; p<0,001) e VHS (R=-0,46; p<0,001) e uma correlação direta entre AF e os indicadores de massa magra como CMB (R=0,31; p=0,01) e EMAP (R=0,47; p<0,001). A massa magra foi inversamente correlacionada com marcadores inflamatórios não específicos, como a VHS, e diretamente correlacionada com a hemoglobina. De acordo com a análise de regressão logística, a massa celular corporal foi associada com extensão da lesão intestinal (OR 0,92; IC95% 0,87-0,97; p<0,01). Conclusão: AF foi inversamente correlacionado com marcadores inflamatórios e diretamente correlacionado com a massa magra. Marcadores inflamatórios de fase aguda e massa celular corporal foram correlacionados com extensão da lesão intestinal.

Body composition in patients with crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis / Composição corporal de pacientes com doença de Crohn e colite ulcerativa

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND The nutritional status of individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases is directly related to the severity of the disease and is associated with poor prognosis and the deterioration of immune competence. OBJECTIVE To assess the nutritional status and the body composition of outpatients with inflammatory bowel diseases. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with clinical and nutritional assessment of patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Patients were classified according to the clinical activity through Crohn’s Disease Activity Index and Mayo Score. Nutritional assessment consisted of anthropometric measurements of current weight, height, mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and thickness of adductor policis muscle, with subsequent calculation of BMI, arm muscle circumference and the mid-arm muscle area (MAMA). The phase angle (PhA) and lean and fat mass were obtained with the use of electrical bioimpedance. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test or Fisher exact test, ANOVA and t-test. RESULTS We evaluated 141 patients of which 54 (38.29%) had Crohn’s disease and 87 (61.70%) ulcerative colitis. The mean age was 43.98 (±15.68) years in Crohn’s disease and 44.28 (±16.29) years for ulcerative colitis. Most of the patients were in clinical remission of the disease (Crohn’s disease: 88.89%; ulcerative colitis: 87.36%). Regarding the nutritional classification using BMI, it was found that 48.15% of Crohn’s disease patients were eutrophic and 40.74% were overweight or obese; among patients with ulcerative colitis, 52.87% were classified as overweight or obese. When considering the triceps skinfold, it was observed in both groups a high percentage of overweight and obesity (Crohn’s disease: 75.93%; ulcerative colitis: 72.42%). Crohn’s disease patients showed the most affected nutritional status according to the nutritional variables when compared to patients with ulcerative colitis (BMI: 24.88 kg/m² x BMI: 26.56 kg/m², P=0.054; MAMA: 35.11 mm x MAMA: 40.39 mm, P=0.040; PhA: 6.46° x PhA: 6.83°, P=0.006). CONCLUSION Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases have a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Crohn’s disease patients had more impaired anthropometric and body composition indicators when compared to patients with ulcerative colitis.

RESUMO CONTEXTO O estado nutricional de indivíduos com doença inflamatória intestinal está diretamente relacionado à gravidade da doença e associado a mau prognóstico e deterioração da competência imune. OBJETIVO Avaliar o status e a composição corporal de pacientes ambulatoriais com doença inflamatória intestinal. METÓDOS Foi conduzido um estudo transversal com avaliação clínica e nutricional de pacientes com doença de Crohn e colite ulcerativa. Pacientes foram classificados de acordo com o índice de atividade clínica Crohn’s Disease Activity Index e escore de Mayo. Avaliação nutricional foi composta peso atual, estatura, circunferência do braço, dobra cutânea tricipital e espessura do músculo adutor do polegar. Posteriormente, foram calculados índice de massa corporal, circunferência muscular do braço e área muscular do braço corrigida. O ângulo de fase e massa magra e massa gorda foram derivadas da bioimpedância elétrica. Foram realizados análise descritiva, teste de qui-quadrado ou exato de Fisher, teste t e ANOVA. RESULTADOS Foram avaliados 141 pacientes, sendo 54 (38,29%) com doença de Crohn e 87 (61,70%) com colite ulcerativa. A idade média foi de 43,98 (±15,68) anos em pacientes com doença de Crohn e 44,28 (±16,29) anos em pacientes com colite ulcerativa. A maioria dos pacientes estava em remissão clínica da doença (doença de Crohn: 88,89%; colite ulcerativa: 87,36%). O estado nutricional de acordo com o IMC foi 48,15% eutrófico e 40,74% sobrepeso/obesidade para doença de Crohn; entre os indivíduos com colite ulcerativa, 52,87% foram classificados como sobrepeso/obesidade. Ao se considerar dobra cutânea do tríceps, observou-se obesidade em ambos os grupos (doença de Crohn 75,93%; colite ulcerativa: 72,42%). Pacientes com doença de Crohn apresentam maiores variações de composição corporal quando comparados com pacientes com colite ulcerativa (IMC: 24,88 kg/m² x IMC: 26,56 kg/m², P=0,054; área do músculo do braço: 35,11mm x área do músculo do braço: 40,39 mm, P=0,040; ângulo de fase: 6,46° x ângulo de fase: 6,83°, P=0,006). CONCLUSÃO Pacientes com doença inflamatória intestinal apresentaram alta prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade. Indivíduos com doença de Crohn apresentaram parâmetros de composição corporal e de antropometria mais comprometidos, quando comparados com indivíduos com colite ulcerativa.

BODY COMPOSITION IN PATIENTS WITH CROHN'S DISEASE AND ULCERATIVE COLITIS.

BACKGROUND: The nutritional status of individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases is directly related to the severity of the disease and is associated with poor prognosis and the deterioration of immune competence. OBJECTIVE: To assess the nutritional status and the body composition of outpatients with inflammatory bowel diseases. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with clinical and nutritional assessment of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Patients were classified according to the clinical activity through Crohn's Disease Activity Index and Mayo Score. Nutritional assessment consisted of anthropometric measurements of current weight, height, mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and thickness of adductor policis muscle, with subsequent calculation of BMI, arm muscle circumference and the mid-arm muscle area (MAMA). The phase angle (PhA) and lean and fat mass were obtained with the use of electrical bioimpedance. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test or Fisher exact test, ANOVA and t-test. RESULTS: We evaluated 141 patients of which 54 (38.29%) had Crohn's disease and 87 (61.70%) ulcerative colitis. The mean age was 43.98 (±15.68) years in Crohn's disease and 44.28 (±16.29) years for ulcerative colitis. Most of the patients were in clinical remission of the disease (Crohn's disease: 88.89%; ulcerative colitis: 87.36%). Regarding the nutritional classification using BMI, it was found that 48.15% of Crohn's disease patients were eutrophic and 40.74% were overweight or obese; among patients with ulcerative colitis, 52.87% were classified as overweight or obese. When considering the triceps skinfold, it was observed in both groups a high percentage of overweight and obesity (Crohn's disease: 75.93%; ulcerative colitis: 72.42%). Crohn's disease patients showed the most affected nutritional status according to the nutritional variables when compared to patients with ulcerative colitis (BMI: 24.88 kg/m² x BMI: 26.56 kg/m², P=0.054; MAMA: 35.11 mm x MAMA: 40.39 mm, P=0.040; PhA: 6.46° x PhA: 6.83°, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases have a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Crohn's disease patients had more impaired anthropometric and body composition indicators when compared to patients with ulcerative colitis.

Phase angle is associated with advanced fibrosis in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of phase angle (PhA) with advanced liver fibrosis in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). MAIN METHODS: One hundred sixty consecutive patients chronically infected with HCV were treated at the Hepatitis C outpatient care setting of our hospital from April 2010 to May 2011 and prospectively evaluated. Bioelectrical impedance analysis measurements were performed during the first hospital visit. Biochemical measurements and liver biopsy data were collected from the patients' medical records and included in the analysis only if they were performed within three months of the inclusion of the patient in the study. KEY FINDINGS: One hundred sixty consecutive patients were evaluated and 25 patients were excluded. A total of 135 patients with 49.8±11.4years old were studied. Among these patients, 60% were male and the PhA was 6.5±0.8°. Regarding the stage of fibrosis, patients with advanced fibrosis were older and had more insulin resistance and more inflammation compared with patients that had mild fibrosis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that PhA was a predictor of advanced fibrosis even when adjusted for gender, age, HOMA-IR, HDL-cholesterol and AST (OR: 0.227; CI 95%: 0.090-0.569; p: 0.013). The best PhA cut-off points associated with advanced fibrosis for the combined data, for females and for males were 6.43°, 5.94° and 6.72°, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE: PhA was predictor of advanced liver fibrosis in patients chronically infected with HCV. In the sample evaluated, for each one-degree decrease in PhA, the risk of advanced fibrosis increased more than four-fold.

Handgrip strength as a predictor of bone mineral density in outpatients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Osteoporosis is well recognized as a cirrhosis complication; however, most studies assessing this condition included only patients on liver transplantation lists with an elevated rate of bone diseases. While general population studies show that handgrip strength is clearly associated with bone mineral density, until now this tool has not been applied to patients with cirrhosis in relation to their bone condition. This study aimed to evaluate whether handgrip strength, bone, and liver tests may be useful as predictors of bone disease in outpatients with cirrhosis. METHODS: One hundred twenty-nine subjects were included (77 men and 52 women). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was applied to evaluate lumbar-spine and femoral-neck T scores. Osteoporosis/osteopenia rates were 26.3%/35.6% in the lumbar spine and 6.9%/41.8% in the femoral neck, respectively. Model selections were based on backward procedures to find the best predictors of low T scores. RESULTS: For lumbar spine, only low handgrip strength and high parathyroid hormone levels were clearly related to low T scores. For femoral neck, only age was associated with low T scores. CONCLUSIONS: Handgrip strength may serve as an effective predictor of low lumbar spine T score among outpatients with cirrhosis. As cirrhosis affects the lumbar spine more than the femoral neck, these results suggest that handgrip strength should be tested in all patients with cirrhosis as a first indicator of bone health.

Terapia nutricional nas doenças inflamatórias intestinais: artigo de revisão / Nutrition therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases: review article

OBJECTIVE: This article aims to discuss the role of nutrition therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases according to its indications, contraindications, and the as main results obtained with prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics and other nutritional interventions. Data source: We performed a literature review using the databases Pubmed, Scielo and Lilacs. Data synthesis: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases are chronic illnesses that affect primarily the gastrointestinal tract and are divided in two most common forms of presentation: Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. The chronic inflammation can cause intestinal lesions, anorexia, nutrients malabsorption, oxidative stress and higher energy consumption, increasing the risk of malnutrition. Nutritional status is directly associated with the disease severity and malnutrition is a serious complication of inflammatory bowel diseases that worsens the patients' prognosis. Nutritional therapy is used to prevent or treat the malnutrition, to correct macro and micronutrients deficits and to reverse some of the metabolic and pathological consequences of these diseases. In the majority of patients, the nutrition therapy has an adjuvant role combined to medical or surgical treatments, but in some specific situations it can be the main treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the benefits of nutritional therapy, more meta-analysis and double-blind controlled studies about these diseases are required to assure the good results obtained in some of the published trials.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo do artigo é discutir o papel da Terapia Nutricional nas Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais de acordo com suas indicações e contraindicações, bem como os principais resultados com prebióticos, probióticos, simbióticos e outras intervenções nutricionais nessas doenças. Fonte dos dados: Foi realizada busca por artigos nas bases de dados: Pubmed, Scielo e Lilacs. Síntese dos dados: Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais são doenças crônicas que acometem principalmente o trato gastrointestinal e se dividem em duas formas mais comuns de apresentação: Doença de Crohn e Retocolite Ulcerativa. A inflamação crônica pode causar lesões intestinais, anorexia, má absorção de nutrientes, estresse oxidativo e aumento do gasto energético, aumentando o risco de desnutrição. O estado nutricional está diretamente associado com a gravidade da doença e a desnutrição é uma complicação que piora o prognóstico do paciente. A terapia nutricional é utilizada para impedir ou corrigir a desnutrição, repor deficiências de macro e micronutrientes e reverter parte das consequências metabólicas patológicas dessas doenças. Na maior parte dos pacientes, a terapia nutricional atua como coadjuvante combinada ao tratamento clínico ou cirúrgico, mas em algumas situações específicas pode ser o principal tratamento. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar dos vários benefícios atingidos pelo uso da terapia nutricional, mais metanálises e estudos randomizados duplo cegos ainda são necessários para comprovar os efeitos de suplementos específicos, garantindo, dessa maneira, resultados positivos na sua aplicação

Ingestão proteica na encefalopatia hepática: panorama atual / Protein intake in hepatic encephalopathy: current concepts

Hepatic encephalopathy is a severe complication of cirrhosis and comprises a complexand multifactorial pathophysiology. However, ammonia exchange between different tissues still deserves attention in relation to neurological alterations. Hepatic encephalopathy treatment remains focused on the trigger factor correction and the ammonia formation. Therefore, it was believed that high-proteic diets could lead to hepatic encephalopathy through the accumulation of nitrogen compounds in the gastrointestinal tract, which could increase production and absorption of ammonia.Currently, it is known that proteic restriction is harmful to cirrhotic patients, but it isstill utilized. Malnutrition is highly prevalent among cirrhotic individuals with hepatic encephalopathy, thus indicating a nutritional risk which is clearly related to higher mortality rates. Furthermore, there is an increase in the protein needs of these patients and also a relationship between the loss of lean mass and hyperammonaemia. For these and other factors herein discussed, today's global guidelines recommend the ingestion of higher protein levels for patients with hepatic encephalopathy

A encefalopatia hepática é uma complicação grave da cirrose e envolve uma fisiopatologia complexa e multifatorial. Entretanto, a influência da amônia nos diferentes tecidos ainda merece atenção no que se refere às manifestações neuropatológicas. O tratamento da encefalopatia hepática permanece focado na correção do distúrbio desencadeante e na diminuição da formação da amônia a partir do cólon. Por conta disso, acreditava-se que dietas ricas em proteínas poderiam desencadear a encefalopatia hepática por meio do aporte de nitrogênio no trato gastrointestinal, podendo aumentar a produção e a absorção da amônia. Atualmente, sabe-se que a restrição proteica é prejudicial para portadores de cirrose, embora ainda utilizada. A desnutrição é prevalente entre indivíduos cirróticos com encefalopatia hepática, indicando um estado nutricional de risco que está nitidamente relacionado às maiores taxas de mortalidade. Além disso, há um aumento nas necessidades proteicas desses pacientes e uma relação entre a perda de massa magra e a hiperamoniemia. Com base em tais fatores, os guidelines atuais mundiais recomendam dieta hiperproteica para pacientes com encefalopatia hepática.

Embolization of splenorenal shunt associated to portal vein thrombosis and hepatic encephalopathy.

UNLABELLED: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a cognitive disturbance characterized by neuropsychiatric alterations. It occurs in acute and chronic hepatic disease and also in patients with portosystemic shunts. The presence of these portosystemic shunts allows the passage of nitrogenous substances from the intestines through systemic veins without liver depuration. Therefore, the embolization of these shunts has been performed to control HE manifestations, but the presence of portal vein thrombosis is considered a contraindication. In this presentation we show a cirrhotic patient with severe HE and portal vein thrombosis who was submitted to embolization of a large portosystemic shunt. CASE REPORT: a 57 years-old cirrhotic patient who had been hospitalized many times for persistent HE and hepatic coma, even without precipitant factors. She had a wide portosystemic shunt and also portal vein thrombosis. The abdominal angiography confirmed the splenorenal shunt and showed other shunts. The larger shunt was embolized through placement of microcoils, and the patient had no recurrence of overt HE. There was a little increase of esophageal and gastric varices, but no endoscopic treatment was needed. Since portosystemic shunts are frequent causes of recurrent HE in cirrhotic patients, portal vein thrombosis should be considered a relative contraindication to perform a shunt embolization. However, in particular cases with many shunts and severe HE, we found that one of these shunts can be safely embolized and this procedure can be sufficient to obtain a good HE recovery. In conclusion, we reported a case of persistent HE due to a wide portosystemic shunt associated with portal vein thrombosis. As the patient had other shunts, she was successfully treated by embolization of the larger shunt.

Redução do MELD em pacientes na lista de transplante hepático após o uso de aminoácidos de cadeia ramificada: relato de caso / Reduction of MELD in patients on the liver transplant list after using chain amino acids: case report

A cirrose hepática (CH) é uma doença com altas taxas de mortalidade e que apresenta, como único tratamento definitivo, o transplante hepático (TH). Infelizmente, nem todos os pacientes têm acesso ao TH e muitos acabam morrendo ainda na lista de transplante. O uso de aminoácidos de cadeia ramificada (AACR) já é amplamente conhecido como tratamento eficaz para a melhora da qualidade de vida destes pacientes. Neste relato, pela primeira vez, documentou-se uma grande melhora clínica e laboratorial em um paciente após o tratamento com AACR, que permitiu ao paciente sair inclusive da lista de transplante. Além da diminuição do escore MELD, houve reestabilização do peso corporal e melhora da qualidade de vida, documentada pelo questionário SF-36.

Liver cirrhosis (LC) is a disease with high mortality rates and its only definitive treatment is the orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Unfortunately, not all patients have access to OLT and many of them end up dying on the transplant waiting list. The use of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) is widely known as an effective treatment for improving the quality of life of these patients. For the first time, in this paper we documented a great improvement of clinical and laboratorial tests of a patient treated with BCAA, which allowed him to be out of the transplant waiting list. In addition to the increase of the MELD score, the patient achieved restabilization of body weight and recovery of the quality of life registered by the SF-36 questionnaire.

Association between phase angle, anthropometric measurements, and lipid profile in HCV-infected patients

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between phase angle, anthropometric measurements, and lipid profile in patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus. METHODS: A total of 160 consecutive patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus and who received treatment at the hepatitis C outpatient unit of our hospital from April 2010 to May 2011 were prospectively evaluated. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, anthropometric measurements, and serum lipid profile analysis were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were excluded. A total of 135 patients with a mean age of 49.8±11.4 years were studied. Among these patients, 60% were male. The phase angle and BMI means were 6.5±0.8° and 26.5±4.8 kg/m2, respectively. Regarding anthropometric variables, mid-arm circumference, mid-arm muscle circumference, and arm muscle area had a positive correlation with phase angle. In contrast, when analyzing the lipid profile, only HDL was inversely correlated with phase angle. However, in multiple regression models adjusted for age and gender, only mid-arm circumference (p = 0.005), mid-arm muscle circumference (p = 0.003), and arm muscle circumference (p = 0.001) were associated with phase angle in hepatitis C virus-infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, phase angle is positively correlated with anthropometric measures in our study. However, there is no association between phase angle and lipid profile in these patients. Our results suggest that phase angle is related to lean body mass in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus. .

Association between phase angle, anthropometric measurements, and lipid profile in HCV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between phase angle, anthropometric measurements, and lipid profile in patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus. METHODS: A total of 160 consecutive patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus and who received treatment at the hepatitis C outpatient unit of our hospital from April 2010 to May 2011 were prospectively evaluated. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, anthropometric measurements, and serum lipid profile analysis were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were excluded. A total of 135 patients with a mean age of 49.8±11.4 years were studied. Among these patients, 60% were male. The phase angle and BMI means were 6.5±0.8° and 26.5±4.8 kg/m2, respectively. Regarding anthropometric variables, mid-arm circumference, mid-arm muscle circumference, and arm muscle area had a positive correlation with phase angle. In contrast, when analyzing the lipid profile, only HDL was inversely correlated with phase angle. However, in multiple regression models adjusted for age and gender, only mid-arm circumference (p = 0.005), mid-arm muscle circumference (p = 0.003), and arm muscle circumference (p = 0.001) were associated with phase angle in hepatitis C virus-infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, phase angle is positively correlated with anthropometric measures in our study. However, there is no association between phase angle and lipid profile in these patients. Our results suggest that phase angle is related to lean body mass in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus.