title: Multiple chemical sensitivity: Genotypic characterization, nutritional status and quality of life in 52 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic, multisystem syndrome of unknown etiology. The aim of the present study was to describe the nutritional status and quality of life of patients suffering from MCS, as well as to identify potential polymorphisms associated with this illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed on patients with a diagnosis of MCS. Data on anthropometric and body composition variables, hand muscle strength and quality of life were collected. The selection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was based on genes previously associated with MCS and genes involved in inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 52 patients (93.2% female), with a mean age of 50.9 (10.3) years were included in the study. Among them, based on their BMI, 48% had an inadequate nutritional status (17% were underweight and 32% were overweight or obese). Thirty percent of patients had a low muscle mass for their age, 84% had muscle strength below the tenth percentile, and 51.8% had a high fat mass percentage. Regarding quality of life, all median scores were lower than those of other illnesses assessed for every subscale assessed. Statistically significant differences between patient cases and controls were found with respect to rs1801133 (MTHFR), rs174546 (FADS1) and rs1801282 (PPARγ) polymorphisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high percentage of patients had a poor nutritional status, low muscle strength and decreased muscle mass. These facts exacerbate the already-lower quality of life of these patients. Specific genetic polymorphisms associated with the syndrome or its pathogenesis were not identified.
authors.affiliation: IMDEA-Food, Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) UAM+CSIC, Madrid, España. Electronic address: viviana.loria@imdea.org.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Loria-Kohen
authors.affiliation: IMDEA-Food, Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) UAM+CSIC, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marcos-Pasero
authors.affiliation: IMDEA-Food, Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) UAM+CSIC, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de la Iglesia
authors.affiliation: IMDEA-Food, Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) UAM+CSIC, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Aguilar
authors.affiliation: IMDEA-Food, Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) UAM+CSIC, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Salinas
authors.affiliation: IMDEA-Food, Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) UAM+CSIC, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herranz
authors.affiliation: IMDEA-Food, Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) UAM+CSIC, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramírez de Molina
authors.affiliation: IMDEA-Food, Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) UAM+CSIC, Madrid, España; Departamento de Producción y Caracterización de Nuevos Alimentos, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación (CIAL), Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) UAM+CSIC, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reglero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018777:Multiple Chemical Sensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011788:Quality of Life; D013851:Thinness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D005819:Genetic Markers; C000716847:FADS1 protein, human
keywords: Calidad de vida; Genetic polymorphisms; Malnutrición; Malnutrition; Multiple chemical sensitivity; Polimorfismos genéticos; Quality of life; Sensibilidad química múltiple