The parameters derived from bioelectrical impedance, phase angle (PA) and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) have been associated with cell membrane integrity and body cell mass. Zinc is a micronutrient that exerts important structural functions and acts in maintaining cellular functionality. To evaluate cell integrity and body cell mass, PA and BIVA were evaluated in children orally supplemented with zinc at different concentrations. Anthropometric, bioelectrical (resistance and reactance) and serum zinc variables were collected from two randomized, triple-blind, controlled clinical trials. Sampling was composed of 71 children consisting of three groups: a control group who received a placebo and two experimental groups who received oral supplementation of 5 or 10 mg-Zn/day for three months. The three groups presented increases (p < 0.001) in the linear height and weight. In the group supplemented with 10 mg-Zn/day, there was an increase in reactance values (p = 0.036) and PA (p = 0.002), in addition to vector displacement (p < 0.001) in relation to the confidence ellipses. An increase in serum zinc concentration was found (p < 0.001) in all three groups. Whit this, the supplementation with 10 mg-Zn/day promotes changes in the integrity of the cell membrane associated with the increase in the cellular mass of healthy children.

Phase angle (PhA) and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) have emerged as valuable tools for assessing nutritional status and prognosis in various patient populations, but there is a lack of studies in rare neurodegenerative diseases. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate these bioelectrical parameters in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), compared with healthy peers. The tetrapolar impedance method was applied and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) was performed. Bioelectrical parameters were obtained (Resistance—R; Reactance—Xc) or calculated (PhA; BIVA). For BIVA, bivariate vectors and confidence ellipses were graphically represented. In addition, R and Xc were used to determine body composition (BC) (Fat Mass—FM; Fat-Free Mass—FFM; and Total Body Water—TBW). In this study, 40 participants were divided into two groups: case group (n = 20, ALS patients) and control group (n = 20, healthy subjects. Our main results showed that ALS patients presented low levels of BMI, FFM, R, and Xc adjusted by height (R/H, Xc/H), hydration, and cellularity, compared to the healthy subjects. Our findings highlight BC and bioelectrical parameters, including PhA and BIVA, as valuable indicators of nutrition status, which should be implemented in the nutrition care process of ALS patients during the disease course.

Anthropometry and body composition evaluation in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are challenging, but crucial methods to evaluate the nutritional status, and better anthropometric reference values and body composition predictive equations are needed for this population. Based on these aspects, this study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that changes in anthropometric parameters and body composition of boys with DMD occur according to age. A cross-sectional study with 49 individuals diagnosed with DMD at the neurological outpatient facility at the Onofre Lopes University Hospital in Natal, Brazil, was performed between September 2016 and March 2019. These individuals underwent anthropometric and body composition evaluation. According to age, the participants were divided into four groups: G1 (2.6 - 8.2y), G2 (8.5 - 10.8y), G3 (11.0 - 14.0y), and G4 (15.9 - 23.0y). The parameters weight-for-age (W/A) (p=0.025), tricipital skinfold (TSF) (p=0.027), adductor pollicis muscle (p=0.041), and corrected arm muscle area (cAMA) (p=0.005) were different among the groups. Regarding anthropometric parameters, was prevalence in the categories of appropriate W/A and a height-for-age (H/A), and eutrophy for body mass index-for-age (BMI/A). For the TSF, there was a higher frequency of severe malnutrition or obesity. The cAMA indicated severe malnutrition in most individuals. As for %FM, high adiposity was more frequent, increasing over age groups (G1 to G4). The boys with DMD presented different patterns of anthropometric and body composition parameters. An increase of fat mass and a decrease of lean mass with age/disease progression were observed.

Individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are prone to nutritional imbalances, and zinc deficiency may contribute to impaired bone health. This study evaluated serum zinc status and the effects of oral supplementation on bone parameters in DMD. In this quasi-experimental before-and-after study, 34 patients were assessed at three time points over eight months. Eligible participants who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate received the proposed interventions during routine follow-up at the Neurology outpatient clinic. Anthropometry, dietary intake, bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and serum zinc were measured; supplementation (5–15 mg/day) was provided for four months. Baseline zinc deficiency was observed in 36.7% of participants. No significant overall changes were detected. Stratified analyses revealed a modest increase in total body BMD among individuals with adequate baseline BMD (p = 0.02). As this finding emerged from a subgroup analysis, it should be interpreted cautiously, and the potential contribution of physiological growth to the observed change cannot be excluded. In addition, zinc-deficient participants showed a significant rise in serum zinc levels (p = 0.008). These findings suggest that the response to zinc supplementation may vary according to baseline nutritional and skeletal status and underscore the relevance of micronutrient monitoring in individuals with DMD. Trial registration: The trial was also registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials under the code RBR-7cfdxm, approved on 14 June 2018.

Address for correspondence Karina Marques Vermeulen (karinavermeulen@hotmail.com) Introduction: Malnutrition is common in cancer patients and is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Methods: that consider inflammatory and anthropometric parameters can improve diagnostic accuracy. The Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) is validated for this purpose, while the GLIM criteria aim to standardize nutritional diagnosis. However, their diagnostic combinations still lack validation in specific populations. Objective: To analyze the agreement between the PG-SGA and different combinations of the GLIM criteria for the diagnosis and stratification of malnutrition severity in cancer patients. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with cancer patients between January and September 2022, approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CAAE: 52027521.7.0000.5293). Participants were individuals of both sexes, aged 18 to 80 years, hospitalized for cancer surgery. Bedridden patients, those undergoing prior cancer treatment, or those with diseases associated with muscle loss were excluded. Different combinations of inflammation (presence of elevated CRP), percentage weight loss (%WL), and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated. The PG-SGA was used as a reference. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and Cohen's kappa coefficient were calculated, with p-values <0.05 considered significant. Results: The sample consisted of 232 patients, predominantly female (52.2%) and individuals under 65 years of age (59.9%). The combination of inflammation and percentage weight loss (%WL) showed the best performance for diagnosing malnutrition, with a sensitivity of 81.6%, a specificity of 56.1%, an accuracy of 74.1%, and a Kappa coefficient of 0.38 (p < 0.001). For stratification of malnutrition severity, the combination of inflammation and low BMI demonstrated greater sensitivity in identifying severe cases (85.7%) and an accuracy of 68.6%, with a Kappa of 0.346 (p = 0.009), in addition to presenting the highest absolute agreement with the PG-SGA. Conclusion: The combination of inflammation and percentage weight loss (%WL) showed greater sensitivity and accuracy for the overall diagnosis of malnutrition, while the association between inflammation and low BMI stood out in stratifying severity. These results highlight the relevance of validating and adjusting diagnostic criteria to the clinical particularities of the oncology population, aiming to improve early detection and therapeutic management of malnutrition. Article published online: 26 June 2026 © 2026. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda. Rua Rego Freitas, 175, loja 1, República, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01220-010, Brazil