Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis detects low body cell mass and dehydration in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
This paper evaluates the nutritional status in patients with mild-moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Alzheimer Center, SS. Trinita Hospital, Cagliari, and "Monsignor Angioni" Nursing Home, Quartu Sant'Elena (Cagliari, Italy).


METHODS
83 free-living patients with mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease (29 men, 54 women), 9 institutionalized women in the severe stage; 468 age-matched controls (202 men, 266 women).


METHODS
Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), anthropometric (height, weight, BMI), bioelectrical (R, Xc) and biochemical variables (serum albumin) were assessed.


RESULTS
Bioelectrical characteristics were significantly different in the patients with mild-moderate AD with respect to controls, indicating low body cell mass (men, T2= 12.8; women, T2=34.9; p < 0.01). Women with severe AD showed low body cell mass and dehydration with respect to patients with mild-moderate AD (T2=17.1; p < 0.01). The phase angle, R/H and Z/H were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with MNA (phase: r = 0.31; R/H: r =-0.37; Z/H: r =-0.37) and albumin (phase: r=0.47; R/H: r=-0.36; Z/H: r=-0.36).


CONCLUSIONS
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a tendency to malnutrition, present even in the mild-moderate stages, and a tendency to dehydration that appears in the severe stage. The BIVA technique is a promising tool for the screening and monitoring of nutrition and hydration status in Alzheimer's disease.
Department of Experimental Biology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001823:Body Composition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003681:Dehydration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology
C422455:ALB protein, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human