Dietary Inflammatory Index of Obese Individuals with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Descriptive Study.

The objective of the present study was to describe the dietary inflammatory profile and its correlations with sleep parameters of obese individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Forty individuals underwent nocturnal polysomnography, anthropometric measurements, body composition by plethysmography, assessment of food consumption by three-day food records, and blood collection for the lipid, glycemic and hormonal profile. Food consumption data were evaluated semiquantitatively, quantitalively assessment, and calculation of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) was perfomed. The results demonstrated a predominantly proinflammatory dietary profile. The participants showed a low intake of fruit and vegetables. Additionally, a low consumption of fiber, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin E was observed, although there was an adequate distribution of macronutrients. In conclusion, although the inflammatory profile did not correlate with OSA, the study showed a directly proportional relationship between adequate dietary patterns and better sleep quality.

Evaluation of the dietary inflammatory index in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and its relationship with nutritional status and metabolic control.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) with the nutritional status and metabolic control of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that examined data of children and adolescents ages 7 to 16 y diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall, from which the DII was calculated. The outcomes were body mass index, lipid profiles (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), and glycated hemoglobin. The DII was evaluated in tertiles and in a continuous way. Multiple linear regression was adopted in the analysis, with P < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Overall, 120 children and adolescents with a mean age of 11.7 (± 2.8) y were included, 53.3% (n = 64) of whom were girls. Excess weight was present in 31.7% participants (n = 38). The average DII was +0.25, ranging from -1.11 to +2.67. Higher values of selenium (P = 0.011), zinc (P = 0.001), fiber (P < 0.001), and other micronutrients were observed in the first tertile of the DII (diet with more antiinflammatory potential). The DII appeared as a predictor of body mass index (P = 0.002; ß = 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-1.75) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.034; ß = 0.19; 95% CI, -13.5 to 0.55). There was a tendency for DII to be associated with glycemic control (P = 0.09; ß = 0.19; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: The inflammatory potential of the diet was associated with increased body mass index and aspects related to metabolic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Brain injury biomarkers do not predict delirium in acutely ill older patients: a prospective cohort study.

Delirium is a common, serious, and often preventable neuropsychiatric emergency mostly characterized by a disturbance in attention and awareness. Systemic insult and inflammation causing blood-brain-barrier (BBB) damage and glial and neuronal activation leading to more inflammation and cell death is the most accepted theory behind delirium's pathophysiology. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between brain injury biomarkers on admission and delirium in acutely ill older patients. We performed a prospective cohort study which analyzed plasma S100B levels at admission in elderly patients. Our primary outcome was delirium diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were association between S100B, NSE and Tau protein and delirium diagnosis and patients' outcomes (admissions to intensive care, length of hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality). We analyzed 194 patients, and 46 (24%) developed delirium, 25 on admission and 21 during hospital stay. Median of S100B at admission in patients who developed delirium was 0.16 and median was 0.16 in patients who didn't develop delirium (p: 0.69). Levels S100B on admission did not predict delirium in acutely ill elderly patients.Trial registration: The study was approved by the local institutional review board (CAPPESq, no. 77169716.2.0000.0068, October 11, 2017) and registered in Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC, no. RBR-233bct).

Factors related to malnutrition and their association with frailty in community-dwelling older adults registered at a geriatric clinic.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that factors related to malnutrition, namely low muscle mass, appetite loss, and adiposity, are associated with frailty and pre-frailty in community-dwelling older adults. AIMS: To identify the prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in a Brazilian convenience sample and test the association between these conditions and malnutrition-related factors. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of an ongoing community project. We studied 106 older adults (≥60 years old). Frailty (dependent variable) was screened using the FRAIL-BR scale. The independent variables were appetite loss (AL), screened from the SNAQ questionnaire; sarcopenia risk, investigated by SARC-F; body adiposity, estimated by the body mass index (BMI); visceral adiposity, estimated by waist circumference (WC) and the combination of these two indicators. The associations were investigated using multinomial logistic regression models. MAIN RESULTS: We found, from our sample, 30.2 % pre-frail and 31.1 % frail participants. The frail and pre-frail were older than the non-frail; the frail ones presented a higher proportion of sarcopenia risk and a higher proportion of AL. From the multiple regression models, frailty conditions showed significant association with the AL (OR = 0.68; p = 0.012 and OR = 0.64; p = 0.009 for pre-frail and frail, respectively) and with sarcopenia risk (OR = 3.24; p = 0.001 and OR = 5.34; p < 0.011 for pre-frail and frail respectively). The adiposity indicated by waist circumference, and age, remained in the final model only as adjusting variables but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: in our convenience sample of older adults, frailty and pre-frailty showed significant association with appetite loss and sarcopenia risk, but not with adiposity indicators. Future studies are needed to better understand our findings.

The possible role of increased consumption of ultra-processed food products in the development of frailty: a threat for healthy ageing?

Frailty, a multifactorial ageing-related syndrome characterised by reduced resistance to stressors and possibly associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, results in negative health outcomes and compromises healthy ageing. There is a growing body of evidence on the relationship between dietary habits, low-grade systemic inflammation and the risk of frailty. Consumption of dietary ultra-processed products (UPP) could negatively contribute to these conditions. In this article, we intend to (i) discuss the role that UPP might have on the development of frailty considering the inflammatory potential of this type of food and (ii) to raise awareness on deleterious effects of excess UPP intake in the development of adverse health outcomes, in particular, frailty and compromised healthy ageing. UPP are industrial formulations whose nutrient profile has been associated with inflammation and altered gut microbiota. Besides, diets with a greater presence of unprocessed foods and antioxidants have been linked to the reduction of oxidative stress and the expression of inflammatory biomarkers. Because inflammation is believed to be a contributing factor in the development of frailty, it is possible that UPP would contribute to the onset or increase of this condition. Importantly, the increasing consumption of UPP in younger populations might pose a greater risk to the development of compromised healthy ageing in the long term.

Applicability of the GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition in older adults in the emergency ward: A pilot validation study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Acutely ill older adults are at higher risk of malnutrition. This study aimed to explore the applicability and accuracy of the GLIM criteria to diagnose malnutrition in acutely ill older adults in the emergency ward (EW). METHODS: We performed a retrospective secondary analysis, of an ongoing cohort study, in 165 participants over 65 years of age admitted to the EW of a Brazilian university hospital. Nutrition assessment included anthropometry, the Simplified Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ), the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST), and the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA). We diagnosed malnutrition using GLIM criteria, defined by the parallel presence of at least one phenotypic [nonvolitional weight loss (WL), low BMI, low muscle mass (MM)] and one etiologic criterion [reduced food intake or assimilation (RFI), disease burden/inflammation]. We used the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Cox and logistic regression for data analyses. RESULTS: GLIM criteria, following the MNA-SF screening, classified 50.3% of participants as malnourished, 29.1% of them in a severe stage. Validation of the diagnosis using MNA-FF as a reference showed good accuracy (AUC = 0.84), and moderate sensitivity (76%) and specificity (75.1%). All phenotypic criteria combined with RFI showed the best metrics. Malnutrition showed a trend for an increased risk of transference to intensive care unit (OR = 2.08, 95% CI 0.99, 4.35), and severe malnutrition for in-hospital mortality (HR = 4.23, 95% CI 1.2, 14.9). CONCLUSION: GLIM criteria, following MNA-SF screening, appear to be a feasible approach to diagnose malnutrition in acutely ill older adults in the EW. Nonvolitional WL combined with RFI or acute inflammation were the best components identified and are easily accessible, allowing their potential use in clinical practice.

Incorporating physical activity in the comprehensive care of people living with HIV starting antiretroviral therapy: Insights from a specialized care setting in São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Managing HIV infection as a chronic condition includes encouraging adoption of healthy behaviors and promotion of physical activity (PA). However, people living with HIV (PLH) are often under social and programmatic vulnerability that may compromise behavior change. Understanding such barriers is crucial for successful incorporation of PA in their comprehensive care. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In this study, we describe PA, energy intake from diet, and anthropometry of a cohort of PLH starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) at a Brazilian reference clinic, report how PA was addressed in routine care and investigate association between PA, energy intake and psychosocial constructs that may facilitate PA (social support and self-efficacy for PA). Among 61 PLH (86.9% males, mean age = 32.5 years) anthropometry was normal, but 47.5% reported PA below recommendations. Despite presenting high social support scores, family encouragement for PA was low, and self-efficacy classified as medium. Chart reviews yielded infrequent reports concerning PA. After adjusting for gender and age, we found a negative association between energy intake from diet and self-efficacy, but none between PA and energy intake or between PA and psychosocial constructs. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that patients in our cohort were insufficiently active when starting ART, and that PA was poorly addressed by caretakers in routine HIV care. Nevertheless, social support and self-efficacy scores suggest potential for behavioral change. Caregivers should therefore start considering patients' vulnerabilities and establishing strategies to help them overcome barriers to incorporate PA in their comprehensive care effectively.

Association between joint diseases and common mental disorders in women at ages related to menopause: Data from the São Paulo City Health Survey, SP, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between joint diseases (JD) and common mental disorders (CMD) in women at ages related to menopause. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, population-based study (São Paulo City Health Survey, SP, Brazil). The sample was composed of 1191 women, 40 years and older. MAIN PARAMETERS INVESTIGATED: Dependent variable (outcome): Presence of CMD, investigated by the Self Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20). INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Presence of JD; other self-reported chronic conditions different from JD (OCC); age categories (40-45, 46-50, 51-55, 56-60, 61+ years old); Adjusting variables: years of formal education and ethnicity (skin color), used as proxies of socioeconomic status. The associations were investigated using simple and multiple logistic regression models. MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of CMD was 30.4%, and JD was 21.4%. Considering only the women presenting CMD, the prevalence of JD was 31.6%. The final regression model showed an independent association between JD and CMD (OR = 1.998; p < 0.001), age between 56 and 60 years (OR = 0.542; p = 0.018), and having three OCC (OR = 2.696; p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that JD in women of the ages related to menopause was significantly and independently associated with CMD. Interestingly, the 56 to 60 years' age interval showed a very particular feature, with opposite association's direction, which demands further investigations.

The concept of anorexia of aging in late life depression: A cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Anorexia of aging (AA) is classically associated with depression. However, robust evidence is lacking regarding general clinic populations. Our aim was to evaluate the association between AA and major depressive disorder (MDD) in geriatric outpatients from a middle-income country. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study. MDD diagnosis was assessed with a psychiatric interview (SCID-5-CV) according to DSM-5 criteria. Depressive symptomatology was assessed by a 15-items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the PHQ-9 questionnaire. Appetite was measured with the Simple Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), whereas AA was defined as a SNAQ score ≤13 points). Linear and logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders were applied to assess the association between depressive symptomatology, MDD and AA. RESULTS: Of the total 339 participants, MDD was present in 65. AA was more frequent in patients with MDD compared to non-depressed patients (30.7 versus 7.7%; p<0.001). The SNAQ score was lower in depressed patients (14.5 vs. 16.6, p<0.001). Adjusted for confounding, linear and logistic regression showed a significant association between the GDS score, PHQ-9 score and MDD with the SNAQ score (p<0.001) and cut-off representing AA (p<0.001), respectively. Moreover, MDD and AA interacted significantly with their association with weight loss (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Depression scales (even without somatic complaints) and MDD were associated with AA in geriatric outpatients. AA is associated with weight loss in MDD. Prospective studies should expand these findings.

One-month of a low-energy diet, with no additional effect of high-protein, reduces Obstructive Sleep Apnea severity and improve metabolic parameters in obese males.

PURPOSE: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is closely associated with obesity. Weight loss ameliorates OSA and its associated metabolic disorders. A high protein intake may improve weight loss through increased energy expenditure, and fat-free mass maintenance during weight loss. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of a low-energy, high-protein diet on OSA severity and metabolic parameters in obese men. METHODS: Forty-five OSA obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) males were included in this randomized study and submitted to nocturnal polysomnography, body composition measured by plethysmography, biochemical analyses of blood glucose, insulin and lipids, and food intake evaluations before and after one month of a low-energy diet. Diets were designed to create a 30% deficit in total energy expenditure with 1.6 g of protein/kg/day (High Protein group - HP) or 0.8 g of protein/kg/day (Low Protein group - LP). RESULTS: Only a time effect of the intervention was observed in body mass (-3.7 ± 2.0% for the LP group and -4.0 ± 1.5% for the HP group; p < 0.001), Body Mass Index (p < 0.001), fat mass in kg (p < 0.01) and fat-free mass in kg (p < 0.01). Significant improvements in Apnea Hypopnea Index were observed in both groups (54.0 ± 25.0 to 33.7 ± 31.7 in LP group; 39.7 ± 24.3 to 21.4 ± 25.9 in HP group; p = 0.06). Improvements of 38% and 46% in the Apnea-Hypopnea Index were observed in the LP and HP groups, respectively. Both interventions provided equivalent metabolic benefits as reductions in glucose (p < 0.001), insulin (p < 0.001), HOMA-IR (p = 0.005), triglycerides (p = 0.002), and in total cholesterol (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: One month of a low-energy diet resulted in significant improvements in OSA severity in obese men. Increased protein intake during a short period of low-energy diet had no further beneficial effects on OSA severity or biochemical parameters than a standard protein diet. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT01985035.

PORTUGUESE VERSION OF THE SNAQ QUESTIONNAIRE: TRANSLATION AND CULTURAL ADAPTATION.

BACKGROUND: Poor appetite is common through the aging process and increases the risk of weight loss, protein-energy malnutrition, immunossupression, sarcopenia and frailty. The Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) has the aim to monitor appetite and identify older adults at risk of weight loss. OBJECTIVE: To describe the process of translation and cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of the SNAQ. METHODS: The translation and cultural adaptation was developed in five steps: translation (by three of the authors of the manuscript and assembled by consensus), backtranslation (by an English native speaker), semantic evaluation (by one verontologist and one nutritionist), comprehension of content (by nutrition specialists and by a group of older persons), pre-test and the SNAQ final version development. RESULTS: The SNAQ Portuguese version maintained the original version meaning and referral. To achieve this feature, the process required some modifications to improve the understanding of older persons, such as inclusion of other options to the answers of some questions, rewritten of one question and inclusion of a meal definition. CONCLUSION: SNAQ questionnaire has been successfully translated and adapted to Portuguese. As our next step, we are validating this tool in different clinical settings in Brazil.

Versão em português do questionário SNAQ: tradução e adaptação cultural / Portuguese version of the snaq questionnaire: translation and cultural adaptation

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Poor appetite is common through the aging process and increases the risk of weight loss, protein-energy malnutrition, immunossupression, sarcopenia and frailty. The Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) has the aim to monitor appetite and identify older adults at risk of weight loss. OBJECTIVE: To describe the process of translation and cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of the SNAQ. METHODS: The translation and cultural adaptation was developed in five steps: translation (by three of the authors of the manuscript and assembled by consensus), backtranslation (by an English native speaker), semantic evaluation (by one verontologist and one nutritionist), comprehension of content (by nutrition specialists and by a group of older persons), pre-test and the SNAQ final version development. RESULTS: The SNAQ Portuguese version maintained the original version meaning and referral. To achieve this feature, the process required some modifications to improve the understanding of older persons, such as inclusion of other options to the answers of some questions, rewritten of one question and inclusion of a meal definition. CONCLUSION: SNAQ questionnaire has been successfully translated and adapted to Portuguese. As our next step, we are validating this tool in different clinical settings in Brazil.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: A perda de apetite é comum durante o envelhecimento e aumenta o risco de perda de peso, desnutrição energético-proteica, imunossupressão, sarcopenia e fragilidade. O Simplified Nutritional Appetie Questionnaire (SNAQ) tem como objetivo monitorar o apetite e identificar idosos sob risco de perda de peso. OBJETIVO: Descrever o processo de tradução e adaptação cultural para o português do Brasil o questionário SNAQ. MÉTODOS: A tradução e adaptação cultural foram realizadas em etapas: tradução (por três autores do manuscrito e grupo para consenso), retrotradução para versão original (por inglês nativo), avaliação semântica (gerontólogo e nutricionista), compreensão de conteúdo (por nutricionistas especialistas e por um grupo de idosos), pré teste e desenvolvimento da versão final. RESULTADOS: A versão em português do SNAQ manteve o significado da versão original. Para alcançar este resultado foram necessárias algumas modificações durante o processo para aperfeiçoar a compreensão dos idosos, como a inclusão de outras opções para respostas de algumas questões, revisão de escrita de uma das questões e inclusão de uma definição para o que é refeição. CONCLUSÃO: A tradução e adaptação cultural do questionário SNAQ foram bem sucedidas. A próxima etapa será a validação desta ferramenta em diferentes contextos clínicos no Brasil.

EFFECTS OF SYNBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTATION ON GUT FUNCTIONING AND SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION OF COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERS - SECONDARY ANALYSES FROM A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL.

BACKGROUND: Aging is a complex process marked by alterations on gut functioning and physiology, accompanied by an increase on the inflammatory status, leading to a scenario called "inflammaging". OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a synbiotic substance on systemic inflammation, gut functioning of community-dwelling elders. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from a randomized clinical trial, lasting 24 weeks, including 49 elders, distributed into two groups: SYN (n=25), which received a synbiotic substance (Frutooligossacaride 6g, Lactobacillus paracasei LPC-31 109 to 108 UFC, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 109 to 108 UFC, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM 109 to 108 UFC e Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 109 to 108 UFC), or PLA (n=24), receiving placebo. The evaluations consisted of serum IL-10 e TNF-α (after overnight fasting), evaluation of chronic constipation (by Rome III Criteria) and faeces types (by Bristol Stool Form Scale). Data were compared before and after the supplementation time, and between groups. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between baseline and final values of serum inflammatory markers. Some subtle beneficial changes were observed in SYN, concerning both gut functioning and faeces types. CONCLUSION: From our data, synbiotic supplementation showed a subtle benefit in gut functioning in apparently healthy community-dwelling elders. Our findings can suggest that the benefits in healthy individuals were less expressive than the ones presented in studies with individuals previously diagnosed as dysbiosis. Future studies, comparing elders with and without gut dysbiosis can confirm our findings.

Association between the adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern and common mental disorders among community-dwelling elders: 2015 Health Survey of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Some questions regarding the benefits of the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern (MDP) are still unanswered, especially in non-Mediterranean areas. As such, this study intends to evaluate the association between the adherence to the MDP with the presence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) in Brazilian older adults, adopting two different concepts of MDP. METHODS: The sample included 545 elders from 2015 Health Survey of São Paulo City (cross-sectional population-based study). CMD were identified through the Self Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20). Data from two 24-hour dietary recall were used to construct two concepts of MDP according to the Mediterranean-diet score (MDS): Traditional MDP (included only foods with characteristics of the original MDP) and Brazilian-MDP (included foods with non-Mediterranean characteristics). The analyses included two different models (crude model and adjusted model for potential confounders) of logistic regression. RESULTS: Moderate and high adherence to Traditional MDP were associated with a lower prevalence of CMD (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.35-0.98 and OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.18-0.96, respectively), after adjustment for sociodemographic, lifestyle and health status variables. In turn, the presence of CMD was not significantly associated with any level of adherence to the Brazilian-MDP. LIMITATIONS: due to the cross-sectional feature of the study, we cannot determine a cause-effect relationship; some covariates were self-reported; the results cannot apply to the elderly from other regions. CONCLUSION: Moderate and high adherence to the traditional MDP was found to reduce the risk of mental disorders in Brazilian elderly. Nevertheless, an increased intake of non-Mediterranean food components can limit this effect.

Efeitos da suplementação com simbióticos sobre a função intestinal e a inflamação sistêmica de idosos inseridos na comunidade - análises secundárias de um estudo clínico-randomizado / Effects of synbiotic supplementation on gut functioning and systemic inflammation of community-dwelling elders - secondary analyses from a randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Aging is a complex process marked by alterations on gut functioning and physiology, accompanied by an increase on the inflammatory status, leading to a scenario called "inflammaging". OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a synbiotic substance on systemic inflammation, gut functioning of community-dwelling elders. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from a randomized clinical trial, lasting 24 weeks, including 49 elders, distributed into two groups: SYN (n=25), which received a synbiotic substance (Frutooligossacaride 6g, Lactobacillus paracasei LPC-31 109 to 108 UFC, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 109 to 108 UFC, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM 109 to 108 UFC e Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 109 to 108 UFC), or PLA (n=24), receiving placebo. The evaluations consisted of serum IL-10 e TNF-α (after overnight fasting), evaluation of chronic constipation (by Rome III Criteria) and faeces types (by Bristol Stool Form Scale). Data were compared before and after the supplementation time, and between groups. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between baseline and final values of serum inflammatory markers. Some subtle beneficial changes were observed in SYN, concerning both gut functioning and faeces types. CONCLUSION: From our data, synbiotic supplementation showed a subtle benefit in gut functioning in apparently healthy community-dwelling elders. Our findings can suggest that the benefits in healthy individuals were less expressive than the ones presented in studies with individuals previously diagnosed as dysbiosis. Future studies, comparing elders with and without gut dysbiosis can confirm our findings.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: O envelhecimento é um processo complexo marcado por alterações no funcionamento e fisiologia intestinais, acompanhado de alterações no estado inflamatório, o que leva ao quadro denominado inflammaging. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos de uma substância simbiótica sobre o funcionamento intestinal e a inflamação sistêmica de idosos inseridos na comunidade. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de uma análise secundária de um estudo clínico randomizado, com 24 meses de duração, que incluiu 49 idosos, distribuídos em dois grupos: SIM (n=25), que receberam uma substância simbiótica (Frutooligossacaride 6g, Lactobacillus paracasei LPC-31 109 to 108 UFC, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 109 to 108 UFC, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM 109 to 108 UFC e Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 109 to 108 UFC), ou PLA (n=24), que receberam placebo. As avaliações foram realizadas antes e após o período de suplementação, e incluíram: concentrações de IL-10 e TNF-α no soro (após uma noite de jejum); investigação de constipação crônica (pelo Critério de Roma III) e dos tipos de fezes (pela Escala de Bristol). Os dados foram comparados entre antes e após a suplementação, e entre os grupos. RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre valores iniciais e finais nos marcadores de inflamação; alguns benefícios sutis foram observados no grupo SIM, no funcionamento intestinal e nos tipos de fezes. CONCLUSÃO: A suplementação com simbióticos mostrou um benefício sutil nessa população. Nossos resultados apontam que idosos aparentemente saudáveis não se beneficiam tanto da suplementação de simbióticos quanto pessoas previamente identificadas com disbiose. Estudos futuros, comparando idosos com e sem disbiose poderão confirmar esses achados.

Synbiotic supplementation, systemic inflammation, and symptoms of brain disorders in elders: A secondary study from a randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effect of a symbiotic substance on symptoms of brain disorders and inflammation in the elderly.Methods: Forty-nine elders, both genders, assigned into two groups: S-group (synbiotic) and P-group (placebo). Evaluations at the beginning and at the end of the experiment: geriatric depressive symptoms scale-15 (GDS-15); mini-mental status examination (MMSE); % of body fat (%fat); serum IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10; serum diamine-oxidase (DAO), intestinal fatty-acid binding protein (IFABP), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Results: Both groups had reduced their %Fat, TNF-α, and DAO. The IL-6, GDS-15, and MMSE were increased in both groups. IL-10 was significantly increased only in the S-group, and LPS was significantly reduced only in the P-group. The GDS-15final was negatively explained by DAO, IL-10, TNF-α, %Fat, being woman, and being allocated in the P-group. The variables that positively explained the GDS-15final were the IL-6, the IFABP, and the LPS. MMSEfinal was positively associated with the IL-10, DAO, being woman, and being allocated in the P-group; and negatively associated with IL-6, TNF-α, %Fat, IFABP, and LPS.Conclusions: We found weak effects of symbiotic on depressive symptoms and more optimistic effects on cognition in apparently healthy elderly. Other studies, with individuals diagnosed with depressive morbidity or cognitive decline, are needed.Registration of Clinical Studies - REBEC (RBR-6qr9xx)].

Low Appendicular Lean Mass Index and Associations with Metabolic and Demographic Parameters in Wheelchair Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury.

BACKGROUND: People suffering from spinal cord injury (SCI) undergo metabolic and physical disturbances that target the skeletal muscle, causing a progressive loss of muscle mass. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) in athletes with traumatic (T-group) and non-traumatic (NT-group) SCI, and its association with metabolic and demographic parameters. METHODS: Wheelchair athletes with SCI aged 18 to 52 years old were included (n = 62). From DEXA assessment, we estimated the ALM index (ALMI = appendicular lean mass/height2) and classified participants according to the degree of muscle loss (ALMI < 2 SD from the reference populations). Fasting blood was assayed for glycaemia, insulin, cortisol, and IGF-1 serum levels. Data were compared by T-test and Fisher's Exact Test; predictors of ALMI were investigated by linear regression models. RESULTS: The frequency of low ALMI was 63% in overall sample, 55% T-group and 71% NT-group. Low ALMI had no significant association with the origin of injury (X2 = 1.1, p = 0.29). Linear regression analyses showed significant association, in the whole sample, between ALMI and serum levels of IGF-1 (Beta = 0.69; p < 0.001), age (Beta=-5.8; p < 0.001), percentage fat mass (Beta=-0.26; p = 0.001), and energy intake (Beta = 0.32; p = 0.02). These significances were not maintained in the NT-group sub-analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Low ALMI was very frequent in our SCI participants, despite exercising and independently of the type of injury. Metabolic and demographic variables associated with low ALMI were different according to the origin of injury, which possibly relies on physiopathology particularities. More studies are necessary to clarify our findings.

Nutritional risk in outpatients of a geriatric neuropsychiatry clinic

BACKGROUND: There are few published studies investigating the nutritional status of elderly individuals with psychiatric disorders. This study aims to describe the nutritional status of elderly patients from a neuropsychiatry outpatient clinic, investigating their nutritional status according to the type of psychiatric diagnostic, specifically Alzheimer's disease (AD), depression (DEP), and other types of dementia (OTD).METHODS: Elderly individuals from two outpatient clinics (n= 217) were evaluated for nutritional risk (using a validated tool) and for some anthropometric and biochemical measurements. RESULTS: We found a high prevalence of nutritional risk in the sample (about 60%). The major dietary problems found were low daily meal frequency and the low daily intake of water. Biochemical analyses indicated blood glucose and total cholesterol to be above the reference values, while hemoglobin and vitamin D were below the reference values. Anthropometric measurements did not differ between the groups with different psychiatric diagnostics, except for calf circumference, which showed to be lower in the OTD group (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Although we found a high prevalence of nutritional risk, the differences between the diagnostic groups were very subtle. The nutritional risk is certainly associated with inadequate eating habits. It is necessary to seek strategies to improve the diet and other lifestyle factors in geriatric neuropsychiatry, in order to mitigate the negative outcomes brought about by the diseases.

The Role of Nutrition and Physical Activity in Cholesterol and Aging.

Cholesterol is a precursor of several substances with important biologic activities; however, it is common to associate this molecule only with bad outcomes. This article reviews the cholesterol metabolism, its functions in the human body, its pathogenicity, and its elimination. The modifications in biochemical paths of cholesterol in aging are highlighted. Finally, the role of diet, physical activity, and exercise in cholesterol management is discussed.