Dietary Intake and Associated Factors in Long-Term Care Homes in Southeast Spain

Diet is a key modifiable factor in the management of malnutrition and age-related diseases such as sarcopenia, an important issue in long-term care homes. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the dietary intake of residents, define dietary patterns, and analyze their association with sex, diet texture, nutritional status, and the presence of sarcopenia. Intake was assessed by the precise weighing method, dietary patterns were defined a posteriori by cluster analysis, and nutritional status and sarcopenia were evaluated by applying the MNA-SF test and EWGSOP algorithm, respectively. A regular diet was consumed by 63% of participants; 56% were at risk of malnutrition and 63% were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Intake of potassium, magnesium, zinc, iodine, vitamin D, E, folic acid, and fiber was low in >80% of participants. Protein intake was <1 g/kg/day in 56% of participants and <25 g/meal in 100%. Two dietary patterns were identified, but neither fully met recommendations. The risk of a poorer diet was higher in females and residents with sarcopenia and was lower in those consuming regular diets. In conclusion, action is required to improve the inadequate nutritional intake of long-term care residents

Método espectrofotométrico para la determinación de tiosoles de bajo peso molecular

Se ha establecido un método espectrofotométrico para la determinación de tioles de bajo peso molecular con nitroprusiato sódico y en presencia de una sal soluble de cinc. Se comparan los resultados obtenidos al utilizar agua y formamida como disolventes.A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of low molecular weight thiols with sodium nitroprusside and in presence of a soluble salt of zinc. It is compared the results using water and formamide as solvents

Calf Circumference, a Valuable Tool to Predict Sarcopenia in Older People Hospitalized with Hip Fracture

Sarcopenia is an important risk factor for hip fracture in older people. Nevertheless, this condition is overlooked in clinical practice. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with sarcopenia among older patients hospitalized for hip fracture, to identify a predictive model of sarcopenia based on variables related to this condition, and to evaluate the performance of screening tools in order to choose the most suitable to be adopted in routine care of older people with hip fracture. A cross-sectional study was undertaken with 90 patients (mean age 83.4 +/- 7.2 years), by assessing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, anthropometric measures, such as body mass index (BMI) and calf circumference (CC), the functional status (Barthel Index), the nutritional status (MNA-SF), and the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MEDAS). Diagnosis of sarcopenia was established according to the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). The analysis of variables associated with sarcopenia was performed using multivariate logistic regression models. Clusters of sarcopenia were explored with heatmaps and predictive risk models were estimated. Sarcopenia was confirmed in 30% of hip fracture patients. Variables with the strongest association with sarcopenia were BMI (OR = 0.79 [0.68-0.91], p < 0.05) and CC (OR = 0.64 [0.51-0.81], p < 0.01). CC showed a relatively high predictive capacity of sarcopenia (area under the curve: AUC = 0.82). Furthermore, CC could be a valuable tool to predict sarcopenia risk compared with the currently used screening tools, SARC-F and SARC-CalF (AUC, 0.819 vs. 0.734 and 0.576, respectively). More studies are needed to validate these findings in external study populations

Informe sobre el impacto de las redes sociales en los hábitos alimentarios de los adolescentes

El informe pretende analizar el impacto de las redes sociales en los hábitos alimentarios de los adolescentes en una primera etapa de forma cualitativa. El dossier describe de forma exhaustiva la situación del problema en España y los esfuerzos que se realizan a diferentes niveles.El informe pretende analizar el impacto de las redes sociales en los hábitos alimentarios de los adolescentes en una primera etapa de forma cualitativa. Para ello se han creado 3 grupos de trabajo que abordan el tema desde diferentes perspectivas. El dossier describe de forma exhaustiva la situación del problema en España y los esfuerzos que se realizan a diferentes niveles. El diagnóstico es extensible a otros países. El dossier enfoca el análisis desde la visión de sistema que tiene Fundación Triptolemos y que queda definida en el apartado 2. Se ha seguido el criterio de la OMS para definir las franjas de edades. El grupo de trabajo que analiza las redes sociales indica que la asociación generalizada de redes sociales y adolescentes requiere matices, pues no todas se utilizan igual y con la misma intensidad. Y en esta diferencia la franja de edad es una barrera clara. Se está produciendo una segmentación en el consumo de estas aplicaciones que marca con nitidez un perfil en cada una de ellas. Con la doble perspectiva, la de consumidor de contenido de terceros y la de productor de contenido para sus iguales, como contexto, el diseño y aplicación de una efectiva educación e información alimentario-nutricional a lo largo de la educación obligatoria, primaria y secundaria, se sitúa como una medida de calado para reforzar la conciencia crítica ante mensajes contrarios a una dieta saludable. De este modo, se lograría evitar, por un lado, la influencia negativa de contenidos promocionales poco saludables o de afirmaciones no contrastadas sobre alimentación, y, por otro, frenar la viralidad entre iguales de bulos, informaciones falsas y hábitos perjudiciales. El grupo de trabajo que analiza las iniciativas de la administración y de la sociedad civil, resume las estrategias de la AESAN (Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición) y de diferentes gobiernos autonómicos, así como algunas publicaciones. El grupo de trabajo de que analiza los programas formativos curriculares ha centrado el análisis de las normativas y el análisis de la situación en las CCAA de Andalucía, Catalunya, Castilla La Mancha, Ceuta y Melilla y Murcia. Se propone dar continuidad al estudio de forma cuantitativa a partir de las estadísticas de la OMS sobre adolescentes, evaluando en 3 entornos geográficos europeos distintos (países nórdicos, países mediterráneos y países de Europa central) la ingesta calórica, el sobrepreso y la obesidad, y contribuir a poder valorar la eficacia de los programas de educación y el impacto de la comunicación.Article de la Fundación Triptolemos signat per 23 autors: Reyes Artacho Martín-Lagos (1), M. Jesús Carrasco-Santos (2), Julio César Cisneros de Britto (3) Ramon Clotet Ballús (4) Yvonne Colomer Xena (5) Giuseppe Fregapane Quadri (6) Belen GarcíaVillanova Ruiz (7), Nuria García-Agua Soler (8), María del Puig Gisbert (9) Eduardo Guerra Hernandez (10), Sara Malo Cerrato (11), Iñigo Marauri Castillo (12), Gala Martín-Pozuelo Del Pozo (13), Antonio Mateos Giménez(14), Esther Molina Montes(15), Fernando Móner (16), Mireia Montaña Blasco (17), M. Jesús Periago Castón (18), Marta Puig Sabanès (19), Celia Rodriguez Perez(20), María Dolores Ruiz López (21), Amparo Salvador Moya (22), Vito Verardo (23)Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i BenestarObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::4 - Educació de QualitatObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum ResponsablesPreprin

Diagnosis and prevalence of sarcopenia in long-term care homes: EWGSOP2 versus EWGSOP1

Antecedentes: la definición y metodología recomendadas para diagnosticar sarcopenia ha ido evolucionando. El consenso más utilizado es el del Grupo Europeo de Trabajo en Sarcopenia en Personas Mayores publicado en 2010 (EWGSOP1), que ha sido actualizado en 2019 (EWGSOP2). Objetivos: determinar la prevalencia de sarcopenia en personas mayores institucionalizadas usando el algoritmo del EWGSOP2 y comparar dichos resultados con los obtenidos en el Granada Sarcopenia Study al aplicar el algoritmo del EWGSOP1. Métodos: para evaluar la sarcopenia se midieron la masa muscular con un impedanciómetro, la fuerza muscular con un dinamómetro y la velocidad de la marcha en un recorrido de cuatro metros. Para la comparación de los resultados se realizó un análisis de sensibilidad y especificidad utilizando la versión 20 de SPSS. Resultados: según el EWGSOP2, el 60,1% tenía sarcopenia y el 58,1% tenía sarcopenia grave, resultados sin diferencias estadísticamente significativas al compararlos con los obtenidos según el EWGSOP1 (63% tenía sarcopenia y 61,2%, sarcopenia grave). Tampoco se hallaron diferencias significativas al comparar los sujetos con baja masa muscular según las fórmulas propuestas en uno y otro consenso, mientras que sí las hubo al comparar los sujetos con baja fuerza muscular debido a la variación en los puntos de corte. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de sarcopenia en personas mayores institucionalizadas es alta, destacando una gran mayoría de sujetos con baja fuerza muscular y bajo rendimiento físico. La utilización de la metodología propuesta por el EWGSOP2 no influyó en los resultados de prevalencia de sarcopenia obtenidos al aplicar el EWGSOP1

Changes in Dietary Behaviours during the COVID-19 Outbreak Confinement in the Spanish COVIDiet Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether dietary behaviours of the Spanish adult population were changed during the COVID-19 outbreak confinement. For that purpose, an online questionnaire, based on 44 items including socio-demographic data, Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) Adherence Screener (MEDAS) as a reference of a healthy diet, processed foods intake, changes in their usual food choices and weight gain was distributed using social media and snowball sampling. A total of 7514 participants (37% aged below 35 years, 70.6% female, 77.9% university-level education or higher) from all the Spanish territory completed the questionnaire. Results outlined healthier dietary behaviours during the confinement when compared to previous habits. Overall, the MEDAS score (ranging from 0 to 14, whereby higher a scoring reflects greater adherence to the MedDiet) increased significantly from 6.53 ± 2 to 7.34 ± 1.93 during the confinement. Multivariate logistic regression models, adjusted for age, gender, region and other variables, showed a statistically significant higher likelihood of changing the adherence to the MedDiet (towards an increase in adherence) in those persons who decreased the intake of fried foods, snacks, fast foods, red meat, pastries or sweet beverages, but increased MedDiet-related foods such as olive oil, vegetables, fruits or legumes during the confinement. COVID-19 confinement in Spain has led to the adoption of healthier dietary habits/behaviours in the studied population, as reflected by a higher adherence to the MedDiet. This improvement, if sustained in the long-term, could have a positive impact on the prevention of chronic diseases and COVID-19-related complications.Fundacion Iberoamericana de Nutricion (FINUT)Sociedad Espanola de Nutricion (SEN)Sociedad Espanola De Nutricion Comunitaria (SENC)Federacion de Nutricion (FESNAD)Sociedad Espanola de Nutricion Clinica y Metabolismo (SENPE)European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD)Sociedad Andaluza de Nutricion Clinica y Dietetica (SANCYD)Fundacion Dieta AtlanticaColegio Oficial de Dietistas Nutricionistas de Andalucia (CODINAN)Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) RYC-2015-1879

Exploring Dietary Behavior Changes Due to the COVID-19 Confinement in Colombia: A National and Regional Survey Study

The authors would like to extend their gratitude and acknowledgments to all study participants and to all Foundations, Institutions, and Societies that supported the survey, helping in the process of dissemination: Asociacion Colombiana de Dietistas y Nutricionistas, ACODIN, Asociacion Colombiana de Facultades de Nutricion y Dietetica (ACOFANUD), Asociacion de Egresados de Nutricion y Dietetica de la Universidad Nacional (ANDUN), Colegio colombiano de nutricionistas Dietistas-COLNUD, Observatorio de Soberania y Seguridad alimentaria y Nutricional de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia (OBSSAN UN). The authors are also thankful to Gloria Esperanza Prada Gomez from Universidad Industrial de Santander (Facultad de Salud, Escuela de Nutricion y Dietetica), who also supported the dissemination of the survey in the Eastern region of Colombia. Sonia Liliana Pertuz Cruz is thankful to Fundacion Carolina, for a doctoral scholarship award.The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of coronavirus SARS-Cov2 (COVID-19) confinement measures in Colombia on the dietary behaviors of a large population sample, at national and regional levels. A survey was conducted to assess dietary behaviors during the COVID-19 confinement. The survey involved 2,745 participants, aged 18 years or older, from six regions of the country (Atlantica, Bogota, Central, Oriental, Orinoquia and Amazonia, and Pacifica). Dietary intake of foods and foods groups in grams per day before and during the confinement was estimated by considering standard serving sizes of foods. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze differences between the regions with regard to dietary behavior changes during the confinement. Differences were deemed significant at p-value < 0.05. Dietary patterns (DPs) before and during the confinement were derived from principal component analysis. Certain dietary habits were adopted by the study population during the confinement (e.g., higher frequency of snacking and home cooking), with significant differences by regions with regard to these habits, as well as regarding culinary processes. The levels of consumption of several foods also changed during the confinement, nationally and regionally. We identified three DPs before the confinement (protein-rich, carbohydrate-rich, and sugar foods patterns) and four DPs during the confinement (westernized, carbohydrate-rich, protein-rich, fish and fruits-vegetable patterns), with an explained total variance of 33 and 45%, respectively. The profile of these DPs varied to some extent between the regions; their adherence to each DP also varied (p-value < 0.001). Our results show that there were marked differences by regions in the dietary behaviors of this population during the confinement, with an overall trend toward unhealthier DPs. These results may help to shape public health nutrition interventions in Colombia during the COVID-19 pandemic and in a post-COVID stage.Fundacion CarolinaAsociacion Colombiana de Dietistas y Nutricionistas, ACODINAsociacion Colombiana de Facultades de Nutricion y Dietetica (ACOFANUD)Asociacion de Egresados de Nutricion y Dietetica de la Universidad Nacional (ANDUN)Colegio colombiano de nutricionistas Dietistas-COLNUDObservatorio de Soberania y Seguridad alimentaria y Nutricional de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia (OBSSAN UN

Chirality in Bare and Passivated Gold Nanoclusters

Chiral structures have been found as the lowest-energy isomers of bare (Au$_{28}$ and Au$_{55}) and thiol-passivated (Au$_{28}(SCH$_{3})$_{16}$and Au$_{38}(SCH_{3})_{24}) gold nanoclusters. The degree of chirality existing in the chiral clusters was calculated using the Hausdorff chirality measure. We found that the index of chirality is higher in the passivated clusters and decreases with the cluster size. These results are consistent with the observed chiroptical activity recently reported for glutahione-passivated gold nanoclusters, and provide theoretical support for the existence of chirality in these novel compounds.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure. Submitted to PR

El índice de calidad de la nutrición en las residencias de ancianos (QUINN). Una nueva herramienta para evaluar la calidad de la dieta en las residencias de ancianos

Acknowledgements: the authors would like to thank the cooperation of the personnel of this institution — Yolanda Velasco, Alfredo Zapatero-Llanos, Carolina Calderon-Niño, and Lidia Peña-Rampérez, and all the residents of the center who participated in the study. The authors would like to thank Verónica Casanova- Muñoz for her constructive comments on some aspects of this manuscript.Background: the assessment of diet quality (DQ) is fundamental to the study of disease-diet associations, and it is necesary to implement an easy to-apply tool in nursing homes (NHs). Our objective was to propose and apply a novel diet quality indicator (DQIn) using an a priori approach for NHs. Methods: the QUality Index for Nutrition in Nursing homes (QUINN) was implemented in a public NH located in Valladolid, Spain, during a 5-week period (n = 137 subjects). The choice of the QUINN components was based on a rapid review. The QUINN was based on 15 dietary components — 12 were basic (vegetables, fruits, legumes, olive oil, cereals, dairy, white fish and seafood, white-meat, eggs/positive; other fats, red and processed meat, and sweets/negative), and 3 were supplementary (fruits and vegetables variety, oily-fish, and whole-grains/positive). Each component was classified into 4-categories (0, 1, 2 o 3 points; range: 0-45 points). Results: the QUINN was tested on a menu offered by a NH giving a result of 34 points (good diet). The components with the highest scores were related to the Mediterranean diet (high consumption of legumes, olive oil, white fish and shellfish; low intake of other fats; and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables), together with cereals, white meat, dairy, and eggs. The components that required a major change were red- and processed-meats, sweets, and whole grains. Conclusion: the menu of this Spanish NH showed a good DQ according to the QUINN. The assessment of the DQ in NHs using QUINN will allow the proposal of interventions aimed at improving their diet.Antecedentes: la valoración de la calidad de la dieta es fundamental para el estudio de las asociaciones enfermedad-dieta, y es necesario implantar una herramienta de fácil aplicación en las residencias de ancianos. Nuestro objetivo fue proponer y aplicar un nuevo indicador de calidad de la dieta (diet quality indicator, DQIn) utilizando un enfoque a priori para su utilización en residencias de ancianos. Métodos: el Índice de Calidad Nutricional en Residencias de Ancianos (QUality Index for Nutrition in Nursing homes, QUINN) se aplicó en una residencia pública de Valladolid durante un periodo de 5 semanas (n = 137 sujetos). La elección de los componentes del QUINN se basó en una revisión rápida. En el QUINN se consideraron 15 componentes dietéticos, 12 básicos (verduras, frutas, legumbres, aceite de oliva, cereales, lácteos, pescado blanco y marisco, carnes blancas, huevos/positivos; otras grasas, carnes rojas y procesadas, y dulces/negativos) y 3 adicionales (variedad de frutas y verduras, pescado azul, y cereales integrales/positivos). Cada componente se clasificó en 4 categorías (0, 1, 2 o 3 puntos; rango: 0-45 puntos). Resultados: el QUINN se aplicó en el menú ofertado por una residencia de ancianos dando un resultado de 34 puntos (dieta de buena calidad). Los componentes con mayor puntuación estaban relacionados con la dieta mediterránea (alto consumo de legumbres, aceite de oliva, pescado blanco y marisco, bajo consumo de otras grasas y variedad de frutas y verduras), junto con los cereales, las carnes blancas, los lácteos y los huevos. Los componentes que requerían un cambio importante fueron las carnes rojas y procesadas, los dulces y los cereales integrales. Conclusión: el menú de esta residencia de ancianos situada en España mostró una calidad de la dieta buena según el QUINN. La evaluación de la calidad de la dieta en las residencias de ancianos mediante el QUINN permitirá proponer intervenciones para mejorar la dieta

Circadian clock gene variants and their link with chronotype, chrononutrition, sleeping patterns and obesity in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC) study

Background & aims: The circadian clock is involved in the control of daily rhythms and is related to the individual's chronotype, i.e., the morningness-eveneningness preference. Knowledge is limited on the relationship between circadian genes, chronotype, sleeping patterns, chronutrition and obesity. The aim was to explore these associations within the EPIC-Spain cohort study. Methods: There were 3183 subjects with information on twelve genetic variants of six genes (PER1, PER2, PER3, CRY1, NR1D1, CLOCK). Their association was evaluated with: chronotype and sleeping duration/ quality (assessed by questionnaires), chrononutrition (number of meals and timing of intake assessed by a diet history), and also anthropometric measures of obesity at early and late adulthood (in two points in time), such as weight and waist circumference (assessed by physical measurements). Multivariable logistic and linear regression as well as additive genetic models were applied. Odds ratios (ORs), b coefficients, and p-values corrected for multiple comparisons were estimated. Genetic risk scores (GRS) were built to test gene-outcome associations further. Results: At nominal significance level, the variant rs2735611 (PER1 gene) was associated with a 11.6% decrease in long-term weight gain (per-allele b beta - -0.12), whereas three CLOCK gene variants (rs12649507, rs3749474 and rs4864548), were associated with a similar to 20% decrease in waist circumference gain (per-allele beta similar to -0.19). These and other associations with body measures did not hold after multiple testing correction, except waist-to-hip ratio and rs1801260, rs2070062 and rs4580704 (CLOCK gene). Associations with chrononutrition variables, chronotype and sleep duration/quality failed to reach statistical significance. Conversely, a weighted GRS was associated with the evening/late chronotype and with all other outcomes (p < 0.05). The chronotype-GRS was associated with an increased overweight/ obesity risk (vs normal weight) in both early and late adulthood (OR = 2.2; p = 0.004, and OR = 2.1; p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: Genetic variants of some circadian clock genes could explain the link between genetic susceptibility to the individual's chronotype and obesity risk