ANTHROPOMETRIC PROFILE AND NUTRITIONAL INTAKE IN PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY.
BACKGROUND
quality of life impairments are common in patients with epilepsy, especially due to cardiovascular comorbidities, overweight and obesity.


OBJECTIVE
to evaluate the nutritional status of patients with epilepsy based on anthropometric measurements and dietary intake.


METHODS
this cross-sectional study involved 72 patients recruited by convenience from the Epilepsy Clinic of the Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The sample consisted of patients of both genders, aged over 18 years, who had been diagnosed with epilepsy for at least one year. The following variables were investigated: anthropometric measurements (weight and height for the assessment of BMI and nutritional status, waist circumference for the assessment of cardiovascular risk); nutritional intake based on a food frequency questionnaire; socioeconomic status based on the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria.


RESULTS
the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 66.7%, and 85.4% of the women had a high cardiovascular risk. Patients displayed a low frequency of seizure control (41.7%), high carbohydrate and protein intakes, as well as low mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes (including omega 3 and 6 fatty acids). No differences in nutritional status or intake were observed between patients with controlled versus uncontrolled seizures.


CONCLUSIONS
patients with epilepsy have comorbidities risks, as evidenced by their tendency to overweight and obesity, and abdominal obesity. Although seizure control did not appear to be related to nutritional status and intake, the presence of such comorbidities underscores the need for nutritional monitoring and intervention in these patients, with a special focus on macronutrient redistribution and on dietary fatty acid levels.
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre. B.R.A.I.N. Neurology Service of the HCPA, Department of Internal Medicine, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS. Food and Nutrition Research Centre, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre/Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre.. rochelly_azevedo@yahoo.com.br.
Rochelly
R
de Azevedo Fernandez
B.R.A.I.N. Neurology Service of the HCPA, Department of Internal Medicine, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS. Postgraduate Program in Medicine: Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre.. camila_nutri@yahoo.com.br.
Camila
C
Corrêa
B.R.A.I.N. Neurology Service of the HCPA, Department of Internal Medicine, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS. Postgraduate Program in Medicine: Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre.. mmbanchin@hotmail.com.
Marino
M
Muxfeld Bianchim
Food and Nutrition Research Centre, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre/Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre. Postgraduate Program in Colective Health, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma (Brazil).. atputp@gmail.com.
Ingrid D
ID
Schweigert Perry
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000886:Anthropometry; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012923:Social Class