[Effects of a diet with products in texture modified diets in elderly ambulatory patients].
BACKGROUND
Decrease in the capacity to deglution solids and liquids is a problem in many people, this problem decreases quality of life. The main objective of our work was to evaluate the influence in elderly ambulatory patients with dysphagia of a texture modified diet ready to use on nutritional parameters and quality of life.


METHODS
We enrolled 29 patients from Nutrition Department with dysphagia and an age over 70 years. Patients received a texture modified diet supplemented with dehydrated nutritional products (Resource Ready) (1,633 kcal, 59,9 g proteins (16%), 52,1 g lipids (29%), 231,7 g carbohydrates (57%), 11,1g de fiber, 82 mg cholesterol). Before and after 3 months of starting the treatment, we recorded a blood analysis, nutritional anthropometric evaluation (tricipital skinfold, midarm circumference, midarm muscle circumference, weight, height and body mass index), a bipolar bioimpedance and a dietary questionnaire of 3 days. SF36 as a questionnaire of quality of life was used before and after nutritional treatment.


RESULTS
A total of 29 patients were recruited with a sex distribution of (18 females and 11 males), and an average age of 79,5+8,59 years. A 25,7% of patients had head and neck tumors, a 24% dementia and a 41,3% chronic neurological deterioration. After treatment, we detected an improvement in weight, fat mass, fat free mass, total proteins, albumin, transferrin and lymphocytes. Caloric, protein fat and carbohydrate intakes increased in a significative way. Caloric intake corrected by weight improved (26.1 +/- 5.7 cal/kg vs 28.9 +/- 4.5 cal/kg: p < 0.05). Quality of life improved significantly (SF 36 score 94.7 +/- 15 points vs 99.3 +/- 10 points; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A texture modified diet with dehydrated nutritional products improved dietary intake, nutritional status and quality of life of ambulatory elderly patients with dysphagia.
Luis
D A De
DA
Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición Clínica, Unidad de Apoyo a la Investigación, Hospital Universitario del Río Hortega, Valladolid, España. dadluis@yahoo.es
Izaola
O
O
Prieto
R
R
Mateos
M
M
Aller
R
R
Cabezas
G
G
Rojo
S
S
Terroba
C
C
Martín
T
T
Cuéllar
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003680:Deglutition Disorders; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D019648:Foods, Specialized; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male