Vitamin and Trace Element Loss from Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy

Biochemical validation of a food frequency questionnaire measuring immune modulating nutrient intake in patients with peripheral arterial disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular disease affecting approximately 6 % of the population. The condition is associated with claudication, non-healing ischemic ulceration, and a systemic pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative state. Recently, nutrition therapy is exploring immunonutrition as a novel dietary strategy to reduce the progression of atherosclerosis. A 21-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) has been developed and previously validated in the PAD population against a dietitian collected seven-day diet history method showing good agreement. The aim of this study was to determine whether the FFQ accurately predicts serum levels of six routinely analysed immune-modulating nutrients (vitamins A, C, D, and E, zinc, iron).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Dietary intake measured by the validated FFQ was compared to fasting serum blood levels of their respective biomarkers. Correlation coefficients and quartile agreements were performed to determine the relationship between dietary intake and serum levels. The mean age of participants (n = 100) was 75 years with 76 % being male. Correlation coefficients and quartile agreements indicated poor agreement between intake measured by FFQ and serum biomarkers and were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that intake measured by the FFQ is not an accurate reflection of serum levels of these immune-modulating nutrients in this population, possibly due to endogenous physiological processes specific to PAD. Further research into the utilisation of nutrients is warranted to inform dietary recommendations in this population.

Nutrition support management of organ transplant recipients in the acute posttransplant phase

Patients who undergo solid organ transplant can have an extensive and challenging postoperative course. The chronicity of the disease state prior to transplant in combination with transplant-specific complications and immunosuppressant medications can lead to distinct challenges that are not observed in other critically ill patients. Although the manifestation of posttransplant complications may be specific to the organ being transplanted, there are common transplant challenges that affect nutrition therapy in these patients. Effects of malnutrition, metabolic aberrations, and posttransplant organ dysfunction should be considered when developing a nutrition care plan for patients in the immediate posttransplant phase. This article addresses the various complications that can arise in the immediate posttransplant phase among patients undergoing solid organ transplant and the appropriate nutrition interventions or considerations for this specialized patient population.