Nilüfer Acar Tek

Metabolic syndrome (MS) in elderly: A cross sectional survey

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Turkish elderly. All data were collected in a cross-sectional based survey on 266 elderly aged above 65 years living in capital city of Turkey, Ankara. MS was defined according to National Cholesterol Education Program: Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. In the total sample of participants, the 61.7% (n=164) of the group has been diagnosed as MS. High blood pressure (BP) and waist circumference (WC) and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were the criteria of MS with highest prevalence in both gender. In addition female participants have higher systolic blood pressure (93.4%) and WC (79.1%) and lower HDL-C (69.2%) than the men (74.4%, 31.1% and 52.2% respectively). Weight correlated significantly with triglyceride (TG) and MS (p<0.001). WC was the anthropometric variable which had the highest correlation with the MS (r=0.338, p<0.001). Our study indicates that MS is highly prevalent in the elderly people particularly among women. Our findings may be helpful in formulating public health policies and prevention strategies focus on elderly population.

A minireview of effects of green tea on energy expenditure

ABSTRACT In recent years, individuals have begun to tend more frequently to some natural and herbal products to be used alone or as a combination with diet and exercise for ensuring the weight loss. Green tea is the leading one of these products. In some studies, it is reported that the green tea causes an increase in thermogenesis and substrate with fat oxidation by affecting on the sympathetic nervous system. It is reported that green tea has two main components that are associated with energy expenditure. One of them is caffeine and the other is catechin content. Each of these two components has an impact on energy mechanism separately. In this minireview article, mechanisms of action and effects of caffeine and catechin, which are found in green tea composition, on energy expenditure are assessed.

Daily Dietary Energy and Macronutrient Intake and Anthropometric Measurements of the Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Introduction: This study was planned to investigate the relation between dietary macronutrient status and anthropometric measurements in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Materials and methods: A total of 28 clinically stable patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were taken a dietary therapy according to the guidelines of the American Journal of Kidney Foundation for 12 weeks. The anthropometric measurements were taken by bioelectrical impedance analyzer. The daily macronutrient intakes of the patients were calculated by the food consumption records. Results: The mean age was 48.3 ± 13.10 years [56.3 ± 7.41 years for males (n = 14) and 40.3 ± 12.84 years for females (n = 14)]. There were significant changes in fat percentage (%), total body water (TBW; %, L), extracellular water (ECW; %, L), basal metabolic rate over body weight (BMR/BW), and body fat mass index (BMFI) in males (p < 0.05), but there was no change in females (p > 0.05). The daily dietary energy and protein intakes were under the recommended level in the study period. Conclusion: Patients undergoing PD frequently have low intakes of protein and energy. It is recommended that individuals undergoing PD periodically maintain 3-day dietary records followed by dietary interviews conducted by a dietitian.

Determining energy requirement and evaluating energy expenditure in neurological diseases

Objectives: It has been reported that in most neurological patients, resting energy expenditure due to hypermetabolism is increased. Physical activity, which is another component of energy expenditure, varies depending on the course of the disease. Different mechanisms are used to explain changes in energy expenditure in this population. Pathological problems of centers that regulate energy balance in the brain, endocrine and metabolic dysfunction, mitochondrial damage, autonomic dysfunction and inflammatory anomalies are thought to be at the root of this situation. In this review study, studies about energy expenditure and energy requirement in neurological diseases have been examined and suggested practices in this field have been presented. Methods: We reviewed articles regarding selected from PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, and databases about energy expenditure and neurological diseases. Results: Based on the type of neurological diseases; factors such as stage of the disease, disease complications, metabolic status, mechanical ventilation, body composition, movement restrictions or hyperactivity change energy expenditure and, as a result, nutrition requirement. Determination of the energy requirement is the basic variable for adjusting medical nutrition therapy. Despite an increase in resting energy expenditure as a result of metabolic processes in most neurological disorders, the daily energy expenditure is reported to change based on the restriction of physical activity due to the disorder. Discussion: Determining patient’s energy expenditure and energy requirements is regarded as the right approach in terms of improving the patient’s quality of life, regulating appropriate medical nutrition treatment and increasing the effectiveness of other treatments.

Determinants of Health Related Quality of Life in Home Dwelling Elderly Population: Appetite and Nutritional Status

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to examine nutritional risk factors such as poor appetite, malnutrition or obesity affecting health related quality of life in elderly.Design and participantsThis is a cross-sectional population-based study consisted of 407 elderly (142 men and 265 women) mean aged 71.7±6.54 years.MeasurementsQuestionnaire including the demographic and general characteristics, health information, nutritional habits was performed by face-to-face interviews. Daily food consumption was assessed using 24-hour dietary recall. Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA) and Mini Nutrition Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) were used for assessment of nutrition status. Appetite was evaluated using the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ). Health related life quality scale (Short Form Health Survey-SF36) was used for evalution health related quality of life.ResultsAccording to MNA and MNA-SF 6.1%; 4.2% of elderly people were malnutrition and 40.3%; 21.9% of them were at risk of malnutrition respectively. Accordingly, SNAQ 28.7% of elderly were risk at loss of weight. Health related quality of life scores of women were significantly lower than men. Good nutritional (MNA-SF) and good appetite (SNAQ) status, increased 1.69, 1.48 fold in the mental component summary scale scores respectively. SNAQ was the best determinant of physical component summary scale score had the greatest positive effect, good appetite status increased approximately 2.2 fold in physical scores. Polypharmacy and high BMI decreased health related quality of life in elderly.ConclusionDeterminants of quality of life are preventable and treatable with early and appropriate interventions in elderly.

The prevalence of abdominal obesity is remarkable for underweightand normal weight adolescent girls

Background/aim: Obesity is a global public health challenge. This study was carried out in order to determine the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity in Turkish adolescent girls. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a total of 1111 adolescent girls aged 12?18 years. The subjects were classified into four groups: underweight, normal, overweight, and obese. Abdominal obesity was defined according to waist circumference (WC) ≥ 90th percentile for Turkish adolescent population references (12-17 years) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) ≥ 0.5. Results: The prevalence of underweight was 17.4%, normal weight 68.5%, overweight 12.1%, and obese 2.0%. A total of 16.9% subjects were abdominal obese based on WC and 10.4% based on WHtR. When the four groups were evaluated in terms of abdominal obesity status, prevalence was 6.4% and 2.6% in the underweight, 14.6% and 5.8% in the normal, 60.0% and 37.3% in the overweight, and 88.8% and 77.3% in the obese groups according to WC and WHtR, respectively. Both WC (r: 0.332) and WHtR (r: 0.156) were positively correlated with age (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of abdominal obesity was found at high levels for overweight and obese adolescents. It should be emphasized that abdominal obesity is a condition that should be considered for underweight and normal adolescents as well. Therefore, abdominal obesity should be regularly assessed for nonobese adolescents to prevent cardiovascular risks, metabolic syndrome, and other related disease.