Avaliação nutricional, da capacidade funcional e do estresse oxidativo de idosos da cidade de Botucatu - SP

Introduction: Ageing is a dynamic and progressive process characterized by the occurrence of several changes in the body. The reduction of functional capacity, satisfactory nutritional status and increased oxidative stress induced by different mechanisms may compromise the quality of life of the elderly population. These parameters were acessed in the elderly of Botucatu – SP. Objective: to associate nutritional, functional and oxidative stress status. Subjects and Methods: weight determination, height and body mass index (BMI); measurement of the triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) and subscapular (SST); measure of the waist circumference (WC), hip (HC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR), arm circumference (AC); calculation of the arm muscle area (AMA); evaluation of the food intake; evaluation of the functional capacity (scales of Basic Activities of Daily Living ADL and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living IADL); simple biochemical evaluation; measurement of the biomarker of oxidative stress malondialdehyde (MDA), α-tocoferol and β-carotene. Statistical Analysis: The data were presented in median and percentis 25 and 75. The Teste Qui-Quadrado was applied or Exact of Fisher. For the comparison among the groups, the Testes Mann-Whitney were used (2 groups) and the Teste Kruskal-Wallis/Teste of multiple comparison of Dunn (more than 2 groups). The level of significance used was 5% or the corresponding p-value. Results: 126 seniors were evaluated (74,2 ± 6,4 years), of which 72 were women (54 men). Excessive weight (IMC≥28 Kg/m) was found in 38,8% of the participants. There was dependence for ADL and IADL in 3,9% and 7,9% of the appraised total, respectively. Men lost more weight compared to women for AC, TSF and SSF, while women presented smaller values for AMA. For WHR, values were above recommended in 31,4% for men and in 52,7% for women (p<0,05). The average for the values of AC, WC, HC, TSF, SSF, AMA, WHR, HDL-c and triglycerides showed significant difference (p<0,05) among the different groups of IMC (low weight, appropriate weight for stature and weight excess). Men had more prevalence of dyslipidemia. The food intake was higher than the recommended in 59,5% of the elderly. High percentage of individuals presented alteration in the levels of α-tocoferol (77,7%, below the normality), of MDA (84,1%, above the normality) and of MDA/α-tocoferol (100%, above the normality). There was a positive correlation between vitamin A ingestion and plasmatic levels of β-carotene. There was also a negative correlation between plasma levels of MDA and α-tocopherol. There was no association between elevated levels of MDA vs. deficient intake of antioxidant vitamins, between MDA vs. BMI groups and different levels of intake (less than optimal intake, adequate intake and intake above the ideal), and between MDA vs. dependence. Conclusion: The results suggest that this population has a high percentage of overweight, especially women. There was low prevalence of functional impairment, which was not associated with BMI categories and with oxidative stress. There was a high oxidative stress, and the levels of MDA and α-tocopherol were inversely correlated. No association was found between oxidative stress and the categories of BMI and functional impairment.