Malnutrition, a major public health issue that characterized by an altered energetic and nutritional balance, is associated with an increase of infectious complications and mortality risk. Indeed, an increase of infectious risk has been reported in malnourished subjects in many studies. Various mechanisms are involved in the increased risk of infections and encompass an altered immune response and disrupted barrier function particularly gut barrier function. In this brief review, we focus on thymic and spleen response in malnourished conditions, as well as on the role of energetic fuels, i.e. amino acids, glucose. The contribution of vitamins and trace-elements is also discussed, as well as the role of gut barrier function.
The aim of this article was to study the quality of hospital-provided nutrition in Algeria, to understand possible deficiencies and weaknesses and then propose appropriate recommendations based on the recommendations of The ESPEN, the AFDN, and the SFNCM guidelines.
The energetic and nutritional value of served meals throughout the week in four public hospitals in east Algeria was calculated. The menus proposed by the dietician of each hospital were used. Energy and nutrient values for each food item were calculated using “CIQUAL Table, 2016”.
The energy average per day was 9759 ± 1111.6 kJ (2332 kcal), and the macronutrients averages per day were: 106 ± 9.2 g, 65 ± 20.5 g, and 326 ± 39.3 g for proteins, lipids and carbohydrates respectively. Results showed imbalance in macronutrients, severe deficiency in healthy fats and micronutrients. Several types of food are absent or insufficient, or proposed in inaccurate types and quantities in hospital menus. The absence and shortage of some types of food and the inaccuracy of types and quantities were the main reasons for the imbalance of the proposed menus in hospitals. We propose a series of evidence-based recommendations tailored to the Algerian healthcare context especially by offering multiple meal choices, addressing macronutrient proportions, and ensuring that diets are responsive to individual patient needs.
Nutrition approach in the hospitals concerned with the study is to reconsider, taking into account hospital menus and all the factors of reduced food intake, to prevent and treat hospital malnutrition and minimize its clinical and economic outcomes.
To examine the relationship between the energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII) and nutritional status, anthropometric measurements, subjective global evaluations (SGA) and biochemical parameters of chronic kidney disease patients.
Cross-sectional analyses were performed on data collected from individuals.
Participants included 119 adults aged 19 years and older, who had data from at least three days of valid 24-hour dietary recall data. Main outcome measures nutritional status, anthropometric measurements, SGA and biochemical parameters were collected. Statistical analyses performed Mann–Whitney U test, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis and ANCOVA test was used.
It was determined that 79.8% of the patients were well-nourished, 19.3% had moderate malnutrition, and 0.9% had severe malnutrition. The patients with severe malnutrition was in the last quartile. It was determined that macronutrients and all vitamin and mineral intakes decreased in the last quartile values compared to the first quartile values (P < 0.05). After adjustment for age, sex, energy intake and glomerular filtration rat, there was a significant differences in triceps skinfold thickness and body fat percentage among the four quartiles. There was an increase in the C reactive protein levels from the first quartile to the third quartile (P < 0.05).
This study shows that E-DII is a good tool for assessing the overall inflammatory potential of diet in chronic kidney disease patients.
To systematically evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure.
Search multiple databases to find randomized controlled trials of vitamin D for chronic heart failure from the self-built database until September 1, 2023. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 and Stata15.0 software.
Eighteen articles were included. Vitamin D supplementation has improved left ventricular ejection fraction [WMD = 3.18%, 95%CI (1.07, 5.3), P < 0.05] and 6-minute walking distance [MD = −11.54, 95%CI (−22,215, −0.871), P < 0.05], has decreased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter [MD = −1.67, 95%CI (−2.88, −0.46), P < 0.05], left ventricular end-diastolic volume [MD = −11.94, 95%CI (−20.59, −3.29), P < 0.05], N-terminal forebrain natriuretic peptide [WMD = −0.7, 95%CI (0.24, 1.16), P < 0.05].
Vitamin D supplementation can improve cardiac function, inhibit ventricular remodeling, and increase exercise endurance inpatients with chronic heart failure.
202440032.
Inflammation plays a great role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 as a life-threatening epidemic. This study was conducted to investigate relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and severity and symptoms of COVID-19.
In total, 683 patients recovered from COVID-19 were included. Dietary intakes of participants were assessed using a validated 168-item FFQ. Outcomes of interest were including severity of disease, symptoms, hospitalization, hypoxia, need to respiratory support, severe lung infection, disease duration, hospitalization, recovery after hospitalization and respiratory support as well as serum level of CRP and ESR.
Participants at the highest quartile of DII score had higher risk of COVID-19 severity (OR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.01, 3.20), duration of recovery (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.01, 3.02), hypoxia (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.08–3.83), needs to respiratory support (OR: 3.82; 95% CI: 2.08, 7.03), and long disease duration (OR: 2.63; 95% CI: 1.41, 4.89), and higher levels of CRP and ESR (P-value < 0.001). Moreover, risk of COVID-19 symptoms including dyspnea, cough, fever, chills, weakness, myalgia, chest pain, headache, vertigo, sore throat, nausea and vomiting and anorexia was higher among those patients; but no such an association was found for the risk of hospitalization, severe lung infection, hospital duration, duration of respiratory support, blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate.
We found that high DII was associated with greater risk of severe disease, higher levels of serum inflammatory markers and lower life satisfaction in patients with COVID-19. Further, prospective studies are required to confirm our findings.

