Food lists from the diet of a group of elderly individuals: analysis and perspectives

INTRODUÇÃO: A despeito do aumento expressivo da população idosa nos últimos anos, são escassos os estudos brasileiros relacionados ao consumo alimentar desses indivíduos. OBJETIVOS: Propor uma lista de alimentos mais consumidos por idosos residentes na Zona Leste de São Paulo e analisar os alimentos que contribuem para o consumo de nutrientes relevantes ao estado nutricional e, consequentemente, à saúde dos idosos. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 100 indivíduos acima de 60 anos, frequentadores de um centro de referência. Para caracterização do estado nutricional foi calculado o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC). Para elaboração das listas de alimentos foram aplicados dois recordatórios alimentares de 24 horas (RA24h) em duas estações diferentes do ano, que foram analisados quanto à frequência de consumo de cada alimento e quanto à contribuição percentual de energia, macronutrientes, fibras, cálcio e vitamina D. RESULTADOS: Com relação ao estado nutricional, 52% apresentaram o IMC < 28 kg/m²; 15% entre 28 e 30 kg/m²; 26% entre 30 e 35 kg/m² e 7% com IMC &gt; 35 kg/m². O aspecto positivo da dieta foi a preservação de hábitos saudáveis como o consumo de arroz e feijão, e também de vegetais verde-escuros. Como aspecto negativo observou-se que a dieta dos idosos é monótona, pois poucos alimentos contribuem para o consumo de vários nutrientes. Além disso, houve um elevado consumo de carboidratos refinados em detrimento do consumo de alimentos integrais. CONCLUSÕES: As listas de alimentos obtidas, além de permitirem a reflexão sobre intervenções educativas, permitem o desenvolvimento subsequente de um Questionário de Frequência Alimentar específico para esse grupo.BACKGROUND: Despite the phenomena of population aging, Brazilian studies related to the feeding practices of elderly individuals are scarce. AIMS: To develop a list of the most ingested foods from community-dwelling elderly persons in the east-zone of São Paulo- Brazil and to analyse the foods that contribute most to relevant health-related nutrients of these individuals. METHODS: The study was performed with 100 individuals aged 60 years and above, registered at a local reference center. To describe the nutritional status, the weight and stature were measured and the BMI- body mass index was calculated. To develop the food lists, two 24h food recalls were applied, during two different seasons of the year. The food recalls were analysed for food intake frequency and for percentage contribution of each food and each nutrient: energy, macronutrients, calcium and vitamin D. RESULTS: The participants were classified as following: 52% with BMI < 28 kg/m²; 15% with BMI between 28 and 30 kg/m²; 26% between 30 and 35 kg/m² and 7% presented BMI&gt; 35 kg/m². The positive aspects related to food intake were rice, bean and green vegetable consumption. As negative aspects, we observed that the diet pattern was repetitive, since few foods contributed to a high number of nutrients. Furthermore, a high ingestion of refined carbohydrates was observed instead of whole foods. CONCLUSION: The food lists allowed reflecting on educative interventions, and also allow future development of different food frequency questionnaires that are specific for this group

Ultrasound analysis of mental artery flow in elderly patients : a case-control study

Objectives: Mental artery flow decreases with age and may have an aetiological role in alveolar ridge atrophy. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with alterations of mental artery flow, assessed by ultrasonography.Methods: This case-control study was conducted on elderly patients (aged above 60 years) at the beginning of dental treatment. Intraoral B-mode Doppler ultrasonography was used to assess mental artery flow. The cases were defined as patients with a weak/absent ultrasound signal, whereas the controls presented a strong ultrasound signal. Demographics and radiographic findings (low bone mineral density on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and mandibular cortical index on panoramic radiographs) were analysed as risk factors for weak/absent ultrasound signal and were calculated as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using conditional logistic regression. In addition, the Student's t-test was used to compare the mean alveolar bone height of the analysed groups. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: A total of 30 ultrasound examinations (12 cases and 18 controls) were analysed. A weak/absent mental artery pulse strength was significantly associated with edentulism (AOR = 3.67; 95% CI = 0.86-15.63; p = 0.046). In addition, there was a significant difference in alveolar bone height between edentulous cases and controls (p = 0.036).Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, the present results indicate that edentulism is associated with diminished mental artery flow, which, in turn, affects alveolar bone height.peer-reviewe

Seasonality of Human Leptospirosis in Reunion Island (Indian Ocean) and Its Association with Meteorological Data

Background: Leptospirosis is a disease which occurs worldwide but particularly affects tropical areas. Transmission of the disease is dependent on its excretion by reservoir animals and the presence of moist environment which allows the survival of the bacteria. Methods and Findings: A retrospective study was undertaken to describe seasonal patterns of human leptospirosis cases reported by the Centre National de Re´fe´rences des Leptospiroses (CNRL, Pasteur Institute, Paris) between 1998 and 2008, to determine if there was an association between the occurrence of diagnosed cases and rainfall, temperature and global solar radiation (GSR). Meteorological data were recorded in the town of Saint-Beno?¿t (Me´te´o France ''Beaufonds-Miria'' station), located on the windward (East) coast. Time-series analysis was used to identify the variables that best described and predicted the occurrence of cases of leptospirosis on the island. Six hundred and thirteen cases were reported during the 11-year study period, and 359 cases (58.56%) were diagnosed between February and May. A significant correlation was identified between the number of cases in a given month and the associated cumulated rainfall as well as the mean monthly temperature recorded 2 months prior to diagnosis (r = 0.28 and r = 0.23 respectively). The predictive model includes the number of cases of leptospirosis recorded 1 month prior to diagnosis (b = 0.193), the cumulated monthly rainfall recorded 2 months prior to diagnosis (b = 0.145), the average monthly temperature recorded 0 month prior to diagnosis (b = 3.836), and the average monthly GSR recorded 0 month prior to diagnosis (b =21.293). Conclusions: Leptospirosis has a seasonal distribution in Reunion Island. Meteorological data can be used to predict the occurrence of the disease and our statistical model can help to implement seasonal prevention measures. (Résumé d'auteur

A LigA Three-Domain Region Protects Hamsters from Lethal Infection by Leptospira interrogans

The leptospiral LigA protein consists of 13 bacterial immunoglobulin-like (Big) domains and is the only purified recombinant subunit vaccine that has been demonstrated to protect against lethal challenge by a clinical isolate of Leptospira interrogans in the hamster model of leptospirosis. We determined the minimum number and location of LigA domains required for immunoprotection. Immunization with domains 11 and 12 was found to be required but insufficient for protection. Inclusion of a third domain, either 10 or 13, was required for 100% survival after intraperitoneal challenge with Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain Fiocruz L1-130. As in previous studies, survivors had renal colonization; here, we quantitated the leptospiral burden by qPCR to be 1.2×103 to 8×105 copies of leptospiral DNA per microgram of kidney DNA. Although renal histopathology in survivors revealed tubulointerstitial changes indicating an inflammatory response to the infection, blood chemistry analysis indicated that renal function was normal. These studies define the Big domains of LigA that account for its vaccine efficacy and highlight the need for additional strategies to achieve sterilizing immunity to protect the mammalian host from leptospiral infection and its consequences