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Purpose As studies examining the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and airflow limitation (AL) have produced conflicting results, the current one set out to analyze if and to what degree there are any correlations between these variables in a population of fit elderly women. Methods One hundred and twenty-one non-smoking, fit and healthy women (age [greater than or equal to] 65 years) underwent anthropometric assessment, laboratory testing (serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, parathormone, and cytokine levels), pulmonary function testing (PFT), and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to evaluate BMD values of the lumbar and femoral regions. Results A significant positive association was found between FEV.sub.1/FVC ratio (Tiffeneau index), a sensitive index of AL, and lumbar and femoral BMD; a 10 % increase in the FEV.sub.1/FVC ratio resulted in a significant increase of 0.025 g/cm.sup.2 in the total hip (p = 0.05), 0.027 g/cm.sup.2 in the femoral neck (p = 0.02), 0.028 g/cm.sup.2 in the femoral trochanter (p = 0.01), and 0.047 g/cm.sup.2 in the lumbar (p = 0.03) BMDs. Binary logistic analyses demonstrated more than a threefold higher risk of low BMD values for the lowest FEV.sub.1/FVC quartile in the lumbar (OR 4.62, 95 % CI 1.48-14.40, p = 0.008), total hip (OR 4.09, 95 % CI 1.28-13.05, p = 0.02 for the second quartile), and femoral trochanter regions (OR 3.90, 95 % CI 1.25-12.20, p = 0.02 for the third quartile). Conclusions AL was associated with a higher risk of reduced BMD in healthy, fit elderly women., Author(s): Caterina Trevisan[sup.1] , A. Vianello[sup.2] , N. Veronese[sup.1] , S. Carraro[sup.1] , S. Pizzato[sup.1] , P. Lucato[sup.1] , G. Girotti[sup.1] , C. Rinaldo[sup.2] , A. Coin[sup.1] , E. Manzato[sup.1] [...]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to ascertain the effect of weight loss over the course of 1 year on 5-year mortality in old nursing home (NH) residents in different classes of body mass index (BMI). SUBJECTS/METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted on 161 NH residents aged ≥ 70 years at the Istituto di Riposo per Anziani, Padova, Italy. Data were collected using a comprehensive geriatric assessment at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up visit. Mortality was recorded over a 5-year follow-up. We divided our sample into four groups using as cutoffs a BMI of 25 and a weight gain or loss of 5% at 1 year (BMI ≥ 25 and weight stable/gain, BMI [greater than or equal to] 25 and weight loss, BMI < 25 and weight stable/gain and BMI < 25 and weight loss). RESULTS: People with a BMI ≥ 25 and weight loss suffered the worst decline in activities of daily living, whereas those with a BMI < 25 and weight loss had the most significant decline in nutritional status, which coincided with the worst decline in the Multidimensional Prognostic Index among the groups whose weight changed. Compared with those with a BMI ≥ 25 and weight stable/gain (reference group), those with a BMI < 25 were at the highest risk of dying (in association with weight loss: hazard ratio HR = 3.60, P = 0.005;in association with weight stable/gain: HR = 2.45, P = 0.01), and the mortality risk was also increased in people with a BMI [greater than or equal to] 25 and weight loss (HR = 1.74, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, weight loss increases the mortality risk in frail, disabled NH residents, even if they are overweight or obese. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2015) 69, 1113-1118; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2015.19; published online 11 March 2015, INTRODUCTION Obesity is an increasingly important clinical issue, associated with cardiovascular morbidity, hypertension and diabetes. (1) As obesity has become more widespread, the proportion of older people who are obese [...]