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General information on the Working Group Nutrition and Body Composition
In old age there are changes concerning in food intake as well es body composition. Among others sense perception and appetite can change. Besides on the one hand there is a decrease of skeletal muscles and on the other hand an increase of bodyfatmass. Thereby the risk of metabolic disorders and malnutrition increases. The physical fitness which affects the functionality and indepence in the daily routine, the social participation and in the end the qualitiy of life decreases.
In the Working Group Nutrition and Body Composition within the scope of different study there are divers questions on diet and its impact on the nutrition status investigated. In the clinical area especially the problem of the disease associated malnutrition is worked on. Therefor among others randomized controlles nutrition interventions studies in different indications are conducted.
The body composition is determined through easy anthroprometic measurement (bodyweight and height) and with the aid of bioelectrican impedance analyses (BIA). For the assessement of strenght hand-strength-and knee-strength-dynamometer are being used. Through the „Timed „Up & Go“ Test“ and 4-meter-walking test the mobility is being examined. A focus lies on the investigation of the prevalence and the functional consequences of sarcopenia, the reduction of skeletal muscle in old age.
The reasearch assistans of the working group are working closely together with the also from Pro. Norman led department foor nutrition and gerontology on the Germand Insitute for Nutrition Research (DIfE).
Applied methods
For capturing the food intake 24-h-recalls, 5-day protocoll and EPIC consumption frequency questionnaire (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) are being used. The methods for the investigation of the nutrtional satus cover besides the clinical examination also validated methods like Subjective Global Assessment, Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 and the geriatris specifc questionnaires SARC-F and Mini Nutritional Assessment. The Measurement of body composition is being executed through different methods (Anthropometrie, bioelectrical impedance analysis, Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry). Furthermore different functional methods like measurements of the hand strength, knee extension and hip flexion and hip extenion are being used.
The studies are partly conducted in cooperation with other clinics like the medical clinic m.S. rheumatology and clinical immunology, CCM and the medical clinic for gastroenterology, infectiology and rheumatology CCM as well as with variuos onkological specialised medical practice; the intervention studies are partly funded by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN Research Fellowship), the Sonnenfeld Stiftung (Promotion scolarship) and by the industry.
