title: [Effect of nutrition on the functional capacity of a group of elderly Spaniards].
abstract: The present study analyzes the influence of the nutritional status on the functional capability of 11 institutionalized elderly living in Madrid (Spain). Nutritional status was evaluated by dietetic, anthropometric, hematological and biochemical data and functional status was evaluated considering adiposity, strength in hands and legs bent and stretched and flexibility. The most important nutritional problems that conditional functional wastages are obesity, hypercholesterolemia and protein and micronutrient deficiency. The adverse influence of obesity and hypercholesterolemia on the functional capacity of the elderly is shown by the inverse relationship between flexibility and strength in hands and legs with the adiposity degree, with the thickness of skin folds and the cholesterolemia. In reference to the diet's influence, there are positive correlations between food intake and most of the nutrients with hand and legs strength, and there are statistical significances for proteins, iron, zinc, magnesium and pyridoxine, and also for vitamin C, niacin, thiamin, folic acid and vitamin E. For blood values, the mayor correlation exists between functional parameters and iron, ferritin and vitamin C levels. Our results contribute to confirm the influence of nutrition on the functional capacity of the influence of nutrition on the functional capacity of the elderly and manifest the necessity of improving the elderly's diet, to prevent micronutrient deficiency and also the necessity of increasing their physical activity. Both measures will mean an important help for sanitary and functional improvement of the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Educación Física, Univ. Complutense de Madrid.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andrés
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meléndez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turrero
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gaspar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Gross
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chamorro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Díaz-Albo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moreiras-Varela
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001823:Body Composition; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007326:Institutionalization; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000097:blood; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D008903:Minerals
vernacular_title: Influencia de la nutrición en la capacidad funcional de un grupo de ancianos españoles.