IntroductionPopulation aging generally accompanies an increase in chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MS). Nursing homes have provided a solution for the decreased ability of elderly individuals for self-care and familial difficulties in meeting the health care needs of elderly individuals.PurposeThe aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of MS and its associated factors in elderly individuals living in nursing homes.Patients and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted with 202 institutionalized elderly individuals. MS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors were assessed to verify their association with MS by logistic regression.ResultsThe MS frequency was 29.2%. The most frequent MS components were low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (63.9%) and abdominal obesity (42.7%). Factors associated with MS were female sex (prevalence ratio [PR]=2.16; 95% CI, 1.04–4.49), age-adjusted institutionalization time >50% (PR=2.38, 95% CI, 1.46–3.88), and high concentrations of interleukin-6 (PR=2.01; 95% CI, 1.21–3.32) and tumor necrosis factor-α (PR=1.70; 95% CI, 1.05–2.77). Moreover, it was verified that the likelihood of having MS was 1.85-fold higher (95% CI, 1.11–3.10) in the group with a diet characterized by very high energy, very low fat, and high dietary fiber.ConclusionThe occurrence of MS in institutionalized elderly individuals was higher in females, and individuals with longer age-adjusted institutionalization time, higher concentrations of immunologic biomarkers, and a dietary intake consisting of higher energy and fiber and lower total fat. The results of the study are useful for guiding health care programs aimed at institutionalized elderly individuals.

Despite evidence showing that the intake of ultra-processed food has a negative impact on health, diet quality and dietary vitamin E, its impact on vitamin E nutritional status and breast milk remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the influence of the consumption of ultra-processed foods on vitamin E biomarkers of lactating women. A cross-sectional study was performed with 294 lactating women. Food consumption was obtained by 24-hour dietary recall and foods were grouped according to the NOVA classification. Levels of alpha-tocopherol were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Breast milk vitamin E (BMVE) adequacy was based on the quantity of the vitamin in the estimated intake volume. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the tertiles and linear regression to association between ultra-processed food consumption and biomarkers. Ultra-processed foods accounted for 16% of energy intake and vitamin E intakes by all women were considered low. Serum alpha-tocopherol was 26.55 (SD 7.98) µmol/L, 5% (n=11) showed inadequate vitamin E (<12µmol/L), and 78% had an inadequate BMVE content (< 4mg/780mL). The regression showed that a higher dietary share of ultra-processed foods was associated with lower concentrations of serum alpha-tocopherol (β=−0.168, CI=−0.047–0.010, p=0.003) and inadequate BMVE content (β=−0.144, CI=−0.505–0.063, p=0.012) (adjustment for income and maternal age). Thus, higher dietary shares of ultra-processed foods had an impact on vitamin E biomarkers, suggesting that inadequate dietary intake practices during lactation may reduce the supply of vitamin E to women and breast milk.

Estimating equations can be used when measuring the height of elderly persons is not possible. However, such methods are not always applicable; therefore, it is necessary to consider several aspects, such as sex, age, and ethnicity of the studied population to generate these equations. This study aimed to compare and validate methods of estimating the height of the Brazilian elderly nursing home residents. An accuracy study was conducted with 168 elderly persons. A total of 23 equations were quantitatively evaluated by plotting the differences in means, the Student’s t-test for paired samples, the coefficient of determination (R2), the root-mean-square error (RMSE), the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and by graphic analysis of the residuals. A significance value of p <0.05 was adopted. An equation was considered applicable when it had R2 >0.7, the lowest RMSE among the equations evaluated, ICC >0.7, and a confidence interval of 95%, with the smallest difference between the upper and lower limits. A greater mean height was noted among younger elderly persons and elderly men compared to up to 80 years and women elderly. Quantitative analysis revealed that equation for Puerto Ricans, using knee height and age, was the most applicable for the overall population (ICC = 0.802). The same equation was applicable for the elderly Brazilian male participants (ICC = 0.838) and for those aged 60–69 years (ICC = 0.895). None of the equations used were applicable for the height estimation of elderly women or individuals aged 70 years or more.

The equation 5 was applicable for estimating weight in the evaluated population and in the different strata analyzed.

O trabalho apresenta uma experiência educativa, realizada no projeto EM TORNO DA MESA, dentro da temática de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional (SAN) em comunidades costeiras tradicionais, localizadas na Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Estadual Ponta do Tubarão, no município de Macau, Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brasil. Com o objetivo de contribuir para otimização do aproveitamento do pescado e utilização dos subprodutos para possibilitar alternativas de produção para subsistência, o alimento para melhoria da saúde e a educação para autonomia, foram realizados encontros, oficinas pedagógicas, mostras, feiras e eventos do projeto EM TORNO DA MESA, os quais foram espaços importantes de formação técnica e social e de desenvolvimento humano. Durante este processo, ocorreu a participação efetiva de 53 pessoas dessas comunidades. Nessa trajetória, foram revelados os princípios da SAN, mediante as boas práticas de manipulação do pescado, desde o mar até a mesa, e concretizado o ciclo positivo da produção, que incluiu as técnicas do beneficiamento e a comercialização de produtos alimentares à base de peixes de baixo valor comercial. A experiência tornou evidente a necessidade do fortalecimento da formação técnica e social, respeitando a cultura alimentar local, da otimização do arranjo da pesca artesanal e da busca de alternativas de comercialização na Reserva.