Academic literature on the topic 'Undernutrition; Arm muscle area; Arm fat area'

AbstractUpper arm anthropometry has a potential role to provide useful estimations of body composition and nutritional status. Aims of the present cross-sectional study were to assess body composition and nutritional status of rural school-going children using upper arm anthropometric measures such as upper arm muscle area-by-height (UAMAH) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) for-height. The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 1281 children of West Bengal, India (boys 619, girls 662) aged 5-12 years and selected using a stratified random sampling method. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, MUAC and triceps skinfold (TSF) were recorded. Body composition and nutritional status were assessed using upper arm muscle area (UMA), upper arm fat area (UFA), UAMAH and MUAC-forheight. Age-sex-specific overall adiposity in TSF, UFA, arm fat index and upper-arm fat area estimates were higher among girls than boys (p<0.01), but UMA and upper-arm muscle area estimates were observed to be higher among boys than girls (p<0.05). High prevalence of undernutrition was found among both boys (53.15%) and girls (41.69%) using UAMAH (p<0.01). The overall prevalence of low MUAC-forheight was higher among boys (28.59%) than girls (25.68%) (p>0.05). Upper arm anthropometric measures, UAMAH and MUAC-for-height are useful for assessment of body composition and nutritional status among children.

AbstractObjective:To assess the nutritional status of older people in an unstable situation.Design:Anthropometric and socioeconomic data were collected cross-sectionally. Body mass index (BMI), arm muscle area (AMA) and arm fat area (AFA) were calculated to evaluate nutritional status. For 41 subjects with kyphosis, height was estimated from arm span using sex-specific regression equations from the non-kyphotic group.Setting:The study was carried out in the post-emergency phase in a Rwandan refugee camp in Karagwe district, north-west Tanzania.Subjects:Measurements were obtained from 413 men and 415 women aged 50–92 years.Results:The prevalence of undernutrition (BMI < 18.5) was 19.5% in men and 13.1% in women and was higher above age 60 years in both sexes: in men the prevalences were 23.2% and 15.0% (P < 0.05) and in women 15.1% and 10.9% for the older and younger age groups respectively. AMA, which is important in relation to the ability to remain active and independent, was also significantly lower in older age groups. No difference was found in AFA. The proportion with low BMI was much higher in the group with kyphosis.Conclusions:Even in this population of older Rwandans who managed to reach the camp and survive in exile for more than a year, undernutrition does occur and is more prevalent at an advanced age. The higher prevalence of undernutrition in kyphotic people illustrates the importance of including this group in nutritional status assessments.

Anthropometric screening has been recommended for the detection of undernutrition as it is simple, inexpensive and non-invasive. However, a recent study estimating the prevalence of undernutrition on admission to hospital in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, highlighted that the anthropometric reference data currently available in the UK and Republic of Ireland are inadequate to accurately determine nutritional status. In order to provide current anthropometric data, we carried out a cross-sectional study of 874 free-living, apparently healthy Irish-born elderly individuals aged over 65 years. Height, weight, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm and calf circumference were measured, values for BMI, mid-arm muscle circumference and arm muscle area were calculated and smoothed centile data derived for each variable. One-third of these elderly individuals had a BMI between 20–25 k/2, approximately two-thirds (68·5 % of males and 61 % of females) were classified as overweight or obese, almost one-fifth having a BMI over 30 k/2(17 % of men and 20 % of women). Very few were underweight, only 3 % having a BMI below 20 k/2. Height, weight, BMI and muscle reserves decreased with increasing age. The reduction in muscle size was associated with lower handgrip strength. Fat reserves declined with age in females only. Just over half of elderly Irish women reported participating in active leisure of 20 min duration four or more time/eek, although 13 % reported having no involvement in active leisure. These data for the Irish elderly extend the data generated from a recent countrywide survey of Irish adults aged 18–64 years, thus providing suitable reference standards for nutritional assessment of elderly Irish individuals.

Undernutrition is common among smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB+) patients. Micronutrient supplementation may improve treatment outcomes, but it is unclear whether additional energy–protein would be beneficial. The present study aimed to assess the effect of energy–protein supplementation on weight, body composition and handgrip strength against a background of high micronutrient intake during tuberculosis (TB) treatment. A total of 377 PTB+ patients co-infected with HIV were randomly allocated one or six biscuits daily for 60 d during TB treatment. Weight, arm fat area, arm muscle area and handgrip strength were assessed at baseline and 2 and 5 months. There were no effects on any outcome at 2 months, but energy–protein supplementation was associated with a 1·3 (95 % CI − 0·1, 2·8) kg marginally significant gain in handgrip strength at 5 months. However, after 2 months, energy–protein supplementation led to a weight gain of 1·9 (95 % CI 0·1, 3·7) kg among patients with cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) counts ≥ 350 cells/μl, but not among patients with low CD4 counts ( − 0·2 kg; 95 % CI − 1·3, 0·8, Pinteraction = 0·03). Similarly, at 5 months, energy–protein supplementation led to a 2·3 (95 % CI 0·6, 4·1) kg higher handgrip strength gain among patients with CD4 counts < 350 cells/μl, but not in those with high CD4 counts (Pinteraction = 0·04). In conclusion, energy–protein supplementation to PTB+ HIV-co-infected patients had no overall effects on weight and body composition, but was associated with marginally significant gain in handgrip strength. More research is needed to develop an effective supplement, before it is recommended to TB programmes.

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the nutritional status and risk factors of undernutrition in post-menarcheal girls in rural northern Bangladesh.DesignCross-sectional data on anthropometric measurements, dietary intake, work activity, morbidity and socio-economic status were collected from 12- to 19-year-old primigravidae (n 209) and never-pregnant adolescents (n 456) matched on age and time since menarche. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine predictors of stunting, thinness, upper-arm muscle (UAMZ) and fat area Z-scores (UAFZ) among the adolescent girls.ResultsA large proportion of adolescents (49 %) were stunted (height-for-age Z-score <−2) and underweight (40 %; weight-for-age Z-score <−2), but not thin (BMI-for-age <5th percentile; ∼10 %). The mean (sd) UAMZ and UAFZ of the adolescent girls was −0·3 (0·64) and −0·9 (0·40), respectively. Lean mass increased whereas fat mass declined with age. Both stunting and thinness were positively associated with age and time since menarche (P < 0·05). Young age (12–14 years) and literacy were protective against stunting among pregnant adolescents (OR = 0·29, 95 % CI 0·09, 0·88 and OR = 0·50, 95 % CI 0·26, 0·96, respectively). Having symptoms of diarrhoea or dysentery (OR = 7·40, 95 % CI 1·43, 38·29) predicted thinness and was associated with lower UAMZ and UAFZ among never-pregnant girls (both P < 0·05). Performing light-to-moderate activities was protective against thinness among never-pregnant girls (OR = 0·43, 95 % CI 0·22, 0·82), whereas pregnant adolescents who performed high levels of strenuous activities had greater UAMZ (P < 0·05).ConclusionUndernutrition was widespread among this post-menarcheal adolescent population. Younger and literate adolescents were less likely to be stunted, whereas thinness and body composition were associated with morbidity and work activity.

1. Anthropometric indices are presented for 402 healthy Chinese elderly subjects leading an active life in the community in Hong Kong.2. Women had higher body-mass index (weight/height2) and body fat, while fat-free mass, arm-muscle circumference and corrected arm-muscle area were higher in men. Body-mass index, fat-free mass, arm-muscle circumference and corrected arm-muscle area did not decline with age. Total body fat was lower in women aged 75 years and above compared with those aged 60–64 years.3. All values were lower than those for elderly Caucasians. A different criteria for severe wasting malnutrition among elderly Chinese should be established.

AbstractArm anthropometry is a commonly used method for determining the nutritional status of children and adolescents. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the arm anthropometry of 1484 children and adolescents (760 boys and 724 girls) aged between 6–17 years. The sample groups are selected who are living in Ankara to establish local reference values. In order to determine upper Arm Muscle Area (AMA) and upper Arm Fat Area (AFA), height, weight, upper arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness measurements were taken in accordance with International Biological Program (IBP) protocols. Smoothed percentiles of AMA and AFA were obtained. Body mass index was calculated with weight and height measurements (kg/m2). Fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) were measured using bio-impedance analyzer. According to the obtained results, arm muscle area values were higher in boys and arm fat area was higher in girls. In addition, sex difference in these variables increased with age. There was a high positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and AMA, AFA. It has been found that there is a difference in AMA and AFA values for Ankara children compared to previous studies in Turkey.

Objective: to evaluate the relationship between body composition of preschool children suffering from excess weight and birth weight (BW). Methods: probabilistic sample, by conglomerates, with 17 daycare centers (of a total of 59) composing a final sample of 479 children. We used Z-score of Body Mass Index (zBMI) ≥ +1 and ≥ +2, respectively, to identify preschool children with risk of overweight and excess weight (overweight or obesity). The arm muscle area (AMA) and the arm fat area (AFA) were estimated from measurements of arm circumference, triceps skin fold thickness. Results: the prevalence of risk of overweight was 22.9% (n=110) and excess weight was 9.3% (n=44). The risk of overweight and excess weight in children did not show correlation between BW and AFA, but it did with adjusted arm muscle area (AMAa) (rp= 0.21; p= 0.0107). The analysis of the group with excess weight alone also showed a positive correlation between BW and AMAa (rp= 0.42; p= 0.0047). Conclusion: among overweight children, lower BW is associated with a lower arm muscle area in early preschool age, regardless of the fat arm area presented by them.

Trabalho Complementar apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de licenciada em Ciências da Nutrição
Background: Undernutrition is highly prevalent in hospitalized patients worldwide and this condition has been associated with increased hospital length of stay (LOS). The diagnosis of undernutrition includes anthropometric measurements. The aim of this study was to measure the independent association of the anthropometric and derived indicators triceps skinfold thickness (TST), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT), mid-upper arm muscle area (AMA) and mid-upper arm muscle circumference (AMC) with LOS, within a varied group of hospitalized patients. Methods: A total of 695 patients were enrolled in a prospective observational study, conducted in a Portuguese university hospital. Participants were dichotomized for the anthropometric and derived indicators TST, MUAC, APMT, AMA and AMC according to the percentiles 5th and 25th described in the literature, except for APMT, for which only the 5th percentile was used. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Patients that presented values lower than the 5th percentile for TST (HR=0.759, 95% CI=0.579;0.995), MUAC (HR=0.822, 95% CI=0.687;0.983), APMT (HR=0.791, 95% CI=0.671;0.933), AMA (HR=0.797, 95% CI=0.660;0.962) and AMC (HR=0.746, 95% CI=0.611;0.911), showed a lower probability of being discharged from the hospital to usual residence over time. For TST (HR 0.798, 95% CI=0.673;0.946), patients whose values were below the 25th percentile also presented a lower probability of being discharged from the hospital to usual residence over time. Conclusion: For all the anthropometric and derived indicators studied, patients that presented values lower than the 5th percentile had a lower probability of being discharged from the hospital to usual residence. For TST, values below the 25th percentile were also associated with lower probability of discharge. Thus, TST was found to be the best anthropometric indicator to predict LOS. This anthropometric indicator can present advantages for the diagnosis of undernutrition since it may allow an earlier detection of a poor nutritional status.
Introdução: A desnutrição apresenta elevada prevalência em doentes hospitalizados e esta condição tem vindo a ser associada com maior tempo de internamento (TI). O diagnóstico da desnutrição inclui indicadores antropométricos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a associação independente entre os indicadores antropométricos prega cutânea tricipital (PCT), perímetro do meio braço (PB), espessura do músculo adutor do polegar (AP), área muscular do braço (AMB) e perímetro muscular do braço (PMB) e o TI em doentes hospitalizados. Métodos: 695 indivíduos participaram num estudo observacional realizado num hospital universitário Português. Os participantes foram dicotomizados para cada indicador antropométrico PCT, PB, AP, AMB e PMB de acordo com os percentis 5 e 25 descritos na literatura, exceto para o AP, para o qual apenas o percentil 5 foi utilizado. Utilizaram--se modelos de regressão de Cox para calcular os hazard ratios (HR) e os intervalos de confiança a 95% (IC 95%) correspondentes. Resultados: Os participantes que apresentaram valores abaixo do percentil 5 para PCT (HR=0,759; IC 95%=0,579;0,995), PB (HR=0,822; IC 95%=0,687;0,983), AP (HR=0,791; IC 95%=0,671;0,933), AMB (HR=0,797; IC 95%=0,660;0,962) e PMB (HR=0,746; IC 95%=0,611;0,911), revelaram uma menor probabilidade de alta para o domicílio. Para a PCT (HR=0,798; IC 95%=0,673;0,946), apresentar valores abaixo do percentil 25 também se associou a uma menor probabilidade de alta para o domicílio. Conclusão: Os participantes que apresentaram valores abaixo do percentil 5 para todos os indicadores antropométricos mostraram uma menor probabilidade de alta domiciliar. Para a PCT, o percentil 25 também foi associado com uma menor probabilidade de alta para o domicílio. A PCT foi então o melhor indicador antropométrico capaz de prever o TI hospitalar. Incluir este indicador antropométrico nos métodos de diagnóstico de desnutrição pode ser uma mais valia por poder detetar mais precocemente um pior estado nutricional.
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