title: Leptin is better than any other biological parameter for monitoring the efficacy of renutrition in hospitalized malnourished elderly patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite malnutrition being a major problem in hospitalized elderly patients, there is a lack of studies focusing on the comparative value of biological parameters for monitoring renutrition. The aim of this study was to determine which biological parameter(s) could best monitor successful renutrition in hospitalized malnourished elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The objective of the study was to explore the impact of a 6-week renutrition process on anthropometric and biological parameters in elderly patients and to define the biological parameters associated with weight regain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 72 hospitalized malnourished elderly patients admitted to a hospital-based geriatric rehabilitation unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were evaluated at admission and at 6 weeks for anthropometric measurements of weight, sum of the four subcutaneous skinfold thicknesses, calf circumference and biological serum parameters including albumin, transthyretin, leptin, IGF-1, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3. Renutrition was considered successful if a patient gained at least 5% of body weight over 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leptin was the only biological parameter that increased at 6 weeks in successful renutrition. Leptin variations were not influenced by C-reactive protein variations, in contrast to transthyretin which can be modified by the inflammatory states frequently encountered in geriatric patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum leptin is a more appropriate parameter than transthyretin for monitoring renutrition.
authors.affiliation: Service de Biochimie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Charles-Foix, Ivry-sur-Seine, France.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nivet-Antoine
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Golmard
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coussieu
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piette
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cynober
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bouillanne
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000097:blood; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000032:analysis; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D020738:Leptin; D011228:Prealbumin; D012709:Serum Albumin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I