title: Dietary intake of patients with moderate to severe COPD in relation to fat-free mass index: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fat-free mass (FFM) depletion has been shown to be a better predictor of mortality than BMI in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The specific aim of the current study was to assess the nutritional status of stable COPD patients in relation to fat free mass index profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 65 male moderate-to-severe stable COPD patients. A self-reported questionnaire was applied about general characteristics and smoking history. Nutritional intake was assessed by using a 54-item quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), waist circumference (WC), handgrip strength and body composition measurements were taken by a trained dietitian. The data were analyzed with SPSS 15.0 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 62.1 ± 8.9 years. Among all of the patients 13.8% was underweight (BMI < 21 kg/m(2)) and 18.5% had a low fat-free mass index (FFMI < 16 kg/m(2)). The percentages of the patients who did not meet the daily recommended intakes (RNI) were highest for magnesium (93.8%) and calcium (92.3%). Mean daily consumptions of milk-yogurt, red meat and fruits were significantly low in the low FFMI group compared to normal FFMI group (for all; p < 0.05). Patients with normal FFMI had significantly higher weight, height, WC, MUAC, handgrip strength, fat and fat-free mass than the patients with low FFMI (for all; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dieticians should be aware of COPD patients with low FFMI in order to evaluate the nutritional intake and therefore plan nutritional strategies to improve prognosis of the disease.
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. damla.yilmaz@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors: Damla
authors: D
authors: Yılmaz
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Atatürk Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. nermincapan@gmail.com.
authors: Nermin
authors: N
authors: Çapan
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Atatürk Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. scanbakan@yahoo.com.
authors: Sema
authors: S
authors: Canbakan
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. htbf@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors: Halit Tanju
authors: HT
authors: Besler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology