Malnutrition is still a largely unrecognized problem in hospitals. Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is generally related to increasing morbidity and mortality, and costs and length of stay. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of patients on admission to a general hospital using different nutritional scores and to test the sensitivity and specificity of these scores. Sample population included 60 patients (55% male; 45% female) selected (aged 65.6715.9 y) at random by using a computer software program. The nutritional state assessment was performed within 48 h of admission, using different nutritional indices (Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), Gassull classification, Instant Nutritional Assessment (INA) and a combined index). About 78.3% of patients were found to be malnourished on admission. The frequency of malnutrition degree varied from 63.3% as assessed by the SGA to 90% with the NRI. Malnutrition severity was not related to the diagnosis. However, an elderly population was associated with a higher prevalence of malnutrition. INA was the best single score to identify patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and who may benefit from nutrition support.

BACKGROUND The results obtained to date concerning food groups, diet quality and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk vary according to criteria used and the study populations. AIM To study the relationships between food groups, diet quality and CRC risk, in an adult population of the Basque Country (North of Spain). METHODS This observational study included 308 patients diagnosed with CRC and 308 age- and sex-matched subjects as controls. During recruitment, dietary, anthropometric, lifestyle, socioeconomic, demographic and health status information was collected. Adherence to the dietary recommendations was evaluated utilizing the Healthy Eating Index for the Spanish Diet and the MedDietScore. Conditional logistic regressions were used to evaluate the associations of food group intakes, diet quality scores, categorized in tertiles, with CRC risk. RESULTS The adjusted models for potential confounding factors showed a direct association between milk and dairy products consumption, in particular high-fat cheeses [odds ratio (OR) third tertile vs first tertile = 1.87, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.11-3.16], and CRC risk. While the consumption of fiber-containing foods, especially whole grains (OR third tertile vs first tertile = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.39-0.98), and fatty fish (OR third tertile vs first tertile = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.27-0.99) was associated with a lower risk for CRC. Moreover, higher MD adherence was associated with a reduced CRC risk in adjusted models (OR third tertile vs first tertile = 0.40, 95%CI: 0.20-0.80). CONCLUSION Direct associations were found for high-fat cheese, whereas an inverse relation was reported for fiber-containing foods and fatty fish, as well as adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern.

This paper investigates the prevalence and interaction of overweight/obesity-related lifestyles (specifically, examining whether subjects meet the recommended criteria), in a representative sample of university students. This study is part of the project EHU12/24, an observational cross-sectional study, designed to assess the prevalence of excess body fat (BF) and major risk of developing overweight/obesity, according to a standardised protocol. In a cohort of 603 students, aged between 18 and 28 years, of the University of the Basque Country, information about meal patterns, diet quality, physical activity, sitting time, sleeping time, toxic habits and anthropometric measurements were collected. Sampling took place from February 2014 to May 2017. Binary logistic regressions models adjusted for the covariates were utilised to test the association between lifestyles and risk of excess adiposity. The prevalence of overweight/obesity, according to BF percentage was 14·4%. The variables analysed related to meal pattern were associated with diet quality, and less healthy food habits were associated with other less health-related behaviours. Among men, moderate/low physical activity, breakfast skipping, non-adequate breakfast duration, number of eating occasions and eating breakfast alone/depending on the occasion were associated with excess BF; while among women, low MedDietScore, moderate/high alcohol consumption, non-adequate sleep duration, eating breakfast and lunch alone/depending on the occasion. Results suggest that certain unhealthy lifestyle behaviours coexist, interact with one another and increase the risk of overweight/obesity in this population. Sex-specific differences in risk factors of obesity has implications for interventions for primary prevention of obesity within this environment.

Given the significant population diversity in genetic variation, we aimed to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously identified in studies of colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility were also relevant to the population of the Basque Country (North of Spain). We genotyped 230 CRC cases and 230 healthy controls for 48 previously reported CRC-susceptibility SNPs. Only the rs6687758 in DUPS10 exhibited a statistically significant association with CRC risk based on the crude analysis. The rs6687758 AG genotype conferred about 2.13-fold increased risk for CRC compared to the AA genotype. Moreover, we found significant associations in cases between smoking status, physical activity, and the rs6687758 SNP. The results of a Genetic Risk Score (GRS) showed that the risk alleles were more frequent in cases than controls and the score was associated with CRC in crude analysis. In conclusion, we have confirmed a CRC susceptibility locus and the existence of associations between modifiable factors and the rs6687758 SNP; moreover, the GRS was associated with CRC. However, further experimental validations are needed to establish the role of this SNP, the function of the gene identified, as well as the contribution of the interaction between environmental factors and this locusto the risk of CRC.

Objective: To assess food environment at OsloMet, through the nutritional profile and processing level of available commercial foods and drinks; as well as to determine food purchasing behaviours, preferences and opinions on the food environment; in order to identify whether interventions on campus need to be conducted. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Pilestredet and Kjeller campus of OsloMet (Norway). Participants: To analyse the nutritional profile of products offered at all food outlets (7 canteens, 3 coffee shops and 2 vending machines) at the main campuses three criteria were applied: those proposed by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition, the UK Nutrient Profiling Model and those of the Food and Drink Industry Professional Practices Committee Norway. In addition, products were classified by processing level, using the NOVA system. Food purchasing, food choice behaviours, and opinions were analysed through a survey online, in which 129 subjects participated. Results: With regard to the first of the objectives, the combination of the above-mentioned criteria showed that 39·8% of the products were “unhealthy” and 85·9% were “ultra-processed”. Regarding the second objective, the most important determinants of food choice were taste, convenience, and cost and nutrition/health value. The most common improvements suggested were lowering the cost, improving the allergen information on labelling, and increasing the variety of fresh and healthy foods. Conclusions: A high proportion of the products offered were considered “unhealthy” and highly processed. Interventions that improve food prices, availability and information on labelling would be well-receivedin this community.