Nutritional status in the healthy longeval population from Sardinia (Italy).
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate sex- and age-related variations of the nutritional status in the aged population of central Sardinia, a geographical area with a high frequency of long-lived people, particularly men.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 200 subjects over 70 years of age (men: N= 100, age= 81.0 +/- 7.0 years; women: N= 100, age= 81.5 +/- 7.3 years).


METHODS
Orroli (central Sardinia, Italy).


METHODS
Mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) were used to evaluate nutritional status and body composition.


RESULTS
The indicators revealed a generally good nutritional status. The MNA results (men: 24.6 +/- 2.2; women: 23.4 +/- 2.5) showed that 64.1% of the subjects had a normal nutritional status and only a small proportion (1.2%) could be classified as malnourished. BIVA showed that most subjects (74.2%) were normal, while the prevalence of low body cell mass was 10.7% and that of dehydration 11.2%. According to the MNA, the nutritional status was significantly better in the men. Almost three-quarters of the men (73.1%) were well nourished vs. half of the women (50.6%). A worsening of the nutritional status with age was observed. The proportion of malnourished individuals, as assessed by MNA, increased from 0% to 9.1% from 70-79 to > 90 years.


CONCLUSIONS
With respect to their contemporaries from other regions, the elderly of Orroli presented a better nutritional status, a similar worsening with age and generally higher sexual dimorphism.
Buffa
R
R
Department of Experimental Biology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato (Cagliari), Cagliari, Italy.
Floris
G
G
Lodde
M
M
Cotza
M
M
Marini
E
E
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017678:Sex Distribution