Association between Cognitive Impairment and Malnutrition in Hemodialysis Patients: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Association of plant-based dietary patterns with depression and anxiety symptoms in Chinese older adults: A nationwide study

BACKGROUND

The associations of plant-based dietary patterns with depression and anxiety symptoms among older adults have not been extensively studied. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine these associations in Chinese older adults.

METHODS

Data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) was employed in the present study. The simplified food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 (CES-D-10) was used to evaluate depression symptoms, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) was used to assess anxiety symptoms. This study employed logistic regression and linear regression to examine the associations between plant-based dietary patterns and symptoms of depression and anxiety.

RESULTS

This study included 11,971 older adults, with a mean age of 83.23 ± 11.10 years. The results indicated that PDI and hPDI were negative associated with depression symptoms (adjusted β -0.09, 95 % CI -0.11, -0.07) (adjusted β -0.09, 95 % CI -0.11, -0.07) and anxiety symptoms (adjusted β -0.03, 95 % CI -0.04, -0.02) (adjusted β -0.04, 95 % CI -0.05, -0.02), while uPDI was positive associated with depression symptoms (adjusted β 0.09, 95 % CI 0.07, 0.11) and anxiety symptoms (adjusted β 0.04, 95 % CI 0.03, 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this study have the potential to promote healthy dietary patterns in older adults, and may have implications for the prevention and management of depression and anxiety in this population.

Relation between myostatin levels and malnutrition and muscle wasting in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Malnutrition is one of the most troublesome comorbidities among hemodialysis patients (HD). Myostatin (MSTN) belongs to the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. In HD patients, MSTN effects are not limited to skeletal muscle growth. The present study aimed to assess MSTN levels in HD patients and its relation to various clinical and biochemical parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The present case control study included 60 patients on HD for at least three years. In addition, there were age and sex-matched healthy subjects who constitutes the control group. Nutritional status was evaluated using the malnutrition inflammation score (MIS). Muscle wasting in the present study was evaluated using the lean tissue index (LTI) as assessed by the body composition monitor (BCM). Rectus Femoris Muscle (RFM) thickness was also measured as indicator for nutritional status of patient.

RESULTS

The present study included 60 HD patients, and ageand sex-matched healthy controls. Patients expressed significantly higher myostatin levels when compared to controls [median (IQR): 221.3 (153.5-688.2) versus 144.8 (97.0-281.7), p < 0.001]. According to MIS, patients were classified into those with no/mild malnutrition (n = 22) and others with moderate/severe malnutrition (n = 38). Comparison between the two subgroups revealed that the former group had significantly lower myostatin levels [167.7 (150.3-236.3) versus 341.7 (160.9-955.9), p = 0.004]. According to LTI, patients were classified into those with muscle wasting (n = 23) and others without muscle wasting (n = 37). Comparative analysis showed that patients in the former group had significantly higher myostatin levels [775.1 (325.1-2133.7) versus 161.8 (142.6-302.3), p < 0.001].

CONCLUSIONS

Myostatin seems to be a promising marker for identification of malnutrition and muscle wasting in HD patients.