Nutritional Risk and Sarcopenia Features in Patients with Crohn’s Disease: Relation to Body Composition, Physical Performance, Nutritional Questionnaires and Biomarkers

Abstract

Patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) face malnutrition risk, which, combined with inflammation, can lead to sarcopenia, associated with a worse prognosis. The purpose of the present study was to assess malnutrition and sarcopenia in patients with CD. Fifty-three patients (26 women) participated (38.1 ± 10.9 years, 79% in remission). Body composition, physical performance, nutritional questionnaires, and biomarkers were performed. Malnutrition was screened with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and the Malnutrition Inflammation Risk Tool (MIRT) and was assessed with the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) tool using etiologic along with three different phenotypic criteria: low Body Mass Index (BMI), low Calf Circumference (CC), and low Fat-Free Mass Index (FFMI). To find cases and evaluate sarcopenia, the Sarcopenia Questionnaire (SARC-F) and European Working Group on Sarcopenia2 (EWGSOP2) criteria were used. Malnutrition rates were 11.3% (n = 6), 7.5% (n = 4), and 5.6% (n = 3) based on low FFMI, calf circumference, and BMI, correspondingly. Four (7%) patients had low Hand-Grip Strength (HGS), n = 8 (14.8%) had low Appendicular Lean Mass (ALM), and n = 3 (5.6%) had low gait speed. No-one had sarcopenia. A high albumin and triceps skinfold pattern, identified by principal component analysis, was related to reduced C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels (B = −0.180, SE = 0.085, p = 0.045). In conclusion, based on the studied anthropometric, nutritional, and functional variables, CD patients were not diagnosed with sarcopenia in the present study. Body composition patterns were related to the inflammatory burden, underlying the interplay of inflammation and malnutrition, even in remission states. Further studies on older populations and during disease exacerbation are necessary to explore the potential link between CD, inflammation, and sarcopenia.

A Repeated Cross-Sectional Pilot Study of Physical Activity, Levels of Depression and Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Young Greek Adults

“…While numerous studies have documented the decline in mental health among young individuals linked with lockdown periods, there is an absence of research in Greece concerning this specific age group [15]. As a result, the objective of this repeated cross-sectional pilot study is to investigate the influence of engaging in physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well-being of young adults (aged [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] in Greece. The study aims to assess alterations in PA levels and overall well-being, as indicated by anxiety and depression levels, since the commencement of the pandemic.…”

The ability of the geriatric nutritional risk index to predict the risk of heart diseases in Korean adults: a Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study cohort

“…Serum albumin, the main component of the GNRI, is closely associated with hs-CRP levels in patients with inflammatory diseases. For instance, patients with higher albumin tend to have higher triceps skinfold measurements reflecting upper arm muscle circumference and lower hs-CRP levels in those with Crohn’s disease ( 54 ). Moreover, malnutrition is known to weaken immune function owing to the loss of body proteins and energy restriction ( 55 ).…”

Cross-Sectional Study of the Anthropometric Profile and Nutrient Status of Elite Female Ice Hockey Players: Differences by Play Position

“…Anthropometric variables were taken by trained regular personnel of the European Leagues, certified by ISAK, the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry, with a technical measurement error of 0.04% for basic measurements and of 2.12% for skinfolds, following the international standards recommended by the ISAK and by Papadimitriou et al [ 33 ].…”

“…The participants, during the measurement, remained relaxed in the supine position and with an empty stomach. The female athletes were in the mid-period of menstruation without any problems with menstruation [ 33 ]. Height was measured in centimeters using a wall-mounted stadiometer (Seca 214, SECA Deutschland, Hamburg, Germany), and weight was measured in kilograms with a high-precision scale (Tanita BC-418, Tanita, Tokyo, Japan).…”

“…On the measurement days, the hockey players should have neither performed high-intensity exercise the previous day nor performed training or stretching sessions on the same day. All participants were weighed while wearing light clothing and barefoot (0.6 kg was subtracted from the total for clothing) [ 33 , 34 ].…”