The study analyzes the relationship between nutritional status and depression symptoms severity in the older population. A total of 1975 older outpatients (1457 women and 518 men, median age 75) were included in the study. Depression symptoms severity was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Participants were divided into two subgroups according to GDS score. Group A: 0–5 points—without depression symptoms (1237, W:898, M:339), and group B: 6–15 points—with depression symptoms (738, W:559, M:179). The nutritional status of the patients was assessed with Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and basic anthropometric variables (waist, hips, calf circumferences, body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), and waist to height ratio (WHtR)). Education years and chronic diseases were also noted. Women with higher depression symptoms severity had significantly lower MNA scores [A: 26.5 (24–28) (median (25%−75% quartiles)) vs. B:23 (20.5–26)], shorter education time [A:12 (8–16) vs. B:7 (7–12)], smaller calf circumference [A:36 (33–38) vs. B: 34 (32–37)], and higher WHtR score [A:57.4 (52.3–62.9) vs. B:58.8 (52.1–65.6)]. Men with depression symptoms had lower MNA scores [A:26.5 (24.5–28) vs. B:24 (20.5–26.5)], shorter education [A:12 (9.5–16), B:10 (7–12)], and smaller calf circumference [A:37 (34–39), B:36 (33–38)]. In the model of stepwise multiple regression including age, years of education, anthropometric variables, MNA and concomitant diseases nutritional assessment, and education years were the only independent variables predicting severity of depression symptoms both in women and men. Additionally, in the female group, odds were higher with higher WHtR. Results obtained in the study indicate a strong relationship between proper nutritional status and education level with depression symptoms severity in older women and men.

Background: Different mechanisms connect the nutritional status with the occurrence and the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The end-stage renal disease is complicated by catabolic inflammatory reactions and cachexia which leads to malnutrition (undernutrition). On the other hand, obesity is an important risk factor for the development and acceleration of CKD. Methods: In the SCOPE study, community-dwelling persons aged 75 years and over, from 6 European countries and Israel were examined at the baseline phase. We assessed the relationship between anthropometric measures (Body Mass Index (BMI), circumferences of arm (AC), waist (WC), hip (HC), and calf (CC), waist-to-hip ratio - WHR, waist-to-height ratio - WHtR, risk of malnutrition (Mini Nutritional Assessment - MNA), serum albumin) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated by Berlin Initiative Study (BIS) equation. Results: We studied 2151 subjects (932 men and 1219 women) with a mean age of 79.5 ± 5.9 years. A total of 1333 (62%) participants had CKD (GRF < 60 ml/min/1.73 m²). Negative correlations between eGFR and weight, AC, WC, HC, CC, BMI, WHtR were observed. Positive correlation occurred between eGFR and MNA score (Spearman’s rho = 0.11) and albumin concentration (rho = 0.09). Higher weight, AC, WC, HC, CC, BMI and WHtR increased the odds ratio of CKD; higher MNA (OR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.94–1.0) and higher serum albumin (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.53–1.0) were weakly associated with reduced odds. The risk of malnutrition was the highest with eGFR < 30 as compared to eGFR > 60 (OR = 2.95, 95%CI = 1.77–4.94 for MNA < 24; OR = 5.54, 95%CI = 1.66–18.5 for hypoalbuminemia < 3.5 g/dL). Conclusion: The population of community dwelling people aged 75+ with CKD shows general features of overweight and obesity with a small prevalence of malnutrition. For anthropometric measures, the strongest association with eGFR and the highest odds of CKD were identified using WC, HC, CC and WHtR. Albumin level and MNA, but not MNA Short Form, indicated an increased odds of malnutrition with a decrease in eGFR.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between sucrose and fiber intake and symptoms of depression in older people. Material and Methods: The research group consisted of 813 community-dwelling subjects (221 males and 592 females, median age 75). The symptoms of depression were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Participants were divided into two subgroups according to the GDS scale. Group A: 0–5 points – no symptoms of depression (612, M:167, W:445), and group B: 6–15 points – with symptoms of depression (201, M:54, W:147). The level of nutrient consumption was assessed with a 24 h Recall Questionnaire and the software ‘Dieta 5.0’. Results: In males, consumption of sucrose (A: 30 g (18.1–53.3), B: 62.8 g (43.2–92.6)) (median (25%–75% quartile) and % of energy from sucrose (A: 7.3% (4.8–11.9), B: 13.5% (7.8–18.6)) were significantly higher in the group with symptoms of depression. Kilocalories per 1 g of fiber intake ratios were higher in depressive groups of both males (A: 89.1 kcal/g (68.1–109), B: 103.9 kcal/g (86.1–134.1)) and females (A: 78.6 kcal/g (62.1–99.9), B: 93 kcal/g (67.1–118.3)). Females without symptoms of depression consumed significantly more fiber (17.2 g (12.9–23.1)) than females with symptoms of depression (16.1 g (11.3–20)). Conclusions: This analysis shows increased kilocalories per 1 g of fiber intake in patients with symptoms of depression. In males, symptoms of depression were connected with higher consumption of sucrose and higher % of energy intake from sucrose. In females, greater fiber consumption was related to less frequent symptoms of depression.

The aim of this study was to verify whether the relationship between nutritional and functional status differs between seniors in the community and those in long-term care institutions. One hundred nursing home (NH) residents aged 60 years and above and 100 sex- and age-matched community-dwelling (CD) older adults were examined. Functional status was assessed using the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) and nutritional status using anthropometric measures, the Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire (MNA) and bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Significant environmental interactions were observed with resting metabolic rate (RMR), extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) ratio, skeletal muscle mass (SMM), skeletal muscle index (SMI) and impedance (Z) and resistance (R) to the results of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The two groups demonstrated different relationships between Z and R and handgrip strength and between Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score and fat free mass (FFM), body density, total body water (TBW) and phase angle (PhA). Nutritional status seems to be more important for functional state in CD older people than in NH residents. Therefore, to ensure the functional independence of seniors living in the community, it is crucial to maintain the correct nutritional parameters. Further studies are necessary to account for the fact that this relationship is less significant among NH residents and to identify other factors that may contribute to these discrepancies between community and institutional environments.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine and compare the relationship between nutritional status, physical activity (PA) level, concomitant chronic diseases, and quality of life (QoL) in community-dwelling (CD) older people and nursing home (NH) residents. Material and Methods: One hundred NH residents aged 60 years and above and one hundred sex- and age-matched CD older adults were examined. The QoL was examined with the EuroQol-5D questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire (MNA), anthropometric measures, and bioimpedance analysis (BIA). The 7-Day Recall Questionnaire and the Stanford Usual Activity Questionnaire were performed to evaluate the PA energy expenditure level (PA-EE) and the health-related behaviours (PA-HRB), respectively. Results: CD subjects presented a significantly higher self-assessment in the VAS scale in comparison with NH residents (CD: 65.3 ± 19.4 vs. NH 58.2 ± 21.4; p < 0.05), but there were no differences within the five dimensions of QoL. In NH patients, the VAS scale was not correlated with any of the variables evaluating the nutritional status and body composition, while in the CD group correlated positively with MNA (rS = 0.36; p < 0.001), % of FFM (rS = 0.22; p< 0.05), body density (rS = 0.22; p < 0.05) and negatively with % of FM (rS = −0.22; p < 0.05). In an institutional environment, only concomitant diseases (mainly urinary incontinence) were found as independent determinants for QoL. In the community, independent determinants of QoL besides concomitant diseases (mainly ischaemic heart disease) were nutritional status or PA-HRB. Conclusions: Determinants of QoL are different depending on the living environment the older adults. Proper nutritional status and beneficial PA behaviours, are crucial for higher QoL of CD elderly, while for NH residents, the main determinants of QoL are chronic conditions.

Background/Objectives: Hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia are common conditions among older adults that may contribute to cognitive decline. However, most of the existing research has focused primarily on dietary intake rather than the actual serum levels of these nutrients or examined them separately. This study aims to investigate the relationship between hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, and the concurrent presence of both deficiencies in relation to cognitive performance among seniors. Methods: A total of 1220 hospitalized patients aged 60 and older were included in the analysis. The participants were categorized into four groups: those with normal serum levels of magnesium and calcium, those with hypomagnesemia, those with hypocalcemia, and those with both serum magnesium and calcium deficiencies. To evaluate the potential influence of age, sex, common comorbidities, and disturbances in magnesium and calcium levels on cognitive performance, two general linear models were employed, using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clock-Drawing Test (CDT) as dependent variables. Results: After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and comorbidities, the mean values for the MMSE and CDT were 23.33 (95%CI: 22.89–23.79) and 5.56 (95%CI: 5.29–5.83) for the group with normomagnesemia and normocalcemia, 22.59 (95%CI: 21.94–23.24) and 5.16 (95%CI: 4.77–5.54) for the group with hypomagnesemia, 19.53 (95%CI: 18.36–20.70) and 4.52 (95%CI: 3.83–5.21) for the group with hypocalcemia, and 21.14 (95%CI 19.99–22.29) and 4.28 (95%CI 3.61–4.95) for the group with both hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia, respectively. Magnesium and calcium deficiencies contributed to MMSE and CDT variance in the general linear models. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that in addition to age, body mass index, and chronic heart failure, both hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia are associated with reduced cognitive performance.