Undernutrition and dietetics Flashcards
what is dietetics
Use of diet in the prevention/treatment of disease
How to know if a child aged 6-59 months is severely acutely malnourished
If arm circumference is less than 110mm
What waist circumference is associated with increased risk for CHD and diabetes
> 40 in men
>35 in women
How to assess nutritional status using biochemistry and haematology
Plasma protein/electrolytes
Vitamins/lipids
Full blood count
How to assess nutritional status when testing function
Muscle strength
Physical signs e.g. wound healing
How to assess nutritional status using dietsary assessment
Diary
What is M.U.S.T
Malnutrition universal screening tool
What are the main questions when assessing malnutrition
- Have you unintentionally lost weight recently?
- Have you been eating less than usual?
- What is your normal weight?
- How tall are you?
What is the difference between primary and secondary undernutrition
Primary- related to diet
Secondary- Related to an illness or condition
What are the causes of undernutrition
1) reduced delivery of nutrients to gastrointestinal system (can be decreased food availability, mechanical, neurological)
2) Increased demand for nutrients (physiological, pathophysiological)
3) Inability for gastrointestinal system to absorb nutrients
What is the response to calorie undernutrition
1) lack of carbs/protein, reduced insulin
2) Reduced insulin suppression of skeletal muscle proteolysis-amino acids released
3) GLuconeogenesis from alanine and glycerol over 3 days
4) Fatty acids used as energy source 3 weeks for full adaptation
5) ketone bodies supply brain requirements
6) reduced insulin suppression of lipolysis
7) tissue protein breakdown and death
What is PEM
protein energy malnutrition
What is dry PEM
Masasmus (no oedema)
–> severe calorie and protein deficiency
What is wet PEM
Kwashiorkor (oedema)
–> severe protein deficiency (linked to low plasma albumin concentrations (hypoalbuminaemia)
Effect of general undernutrition on digestive system
Decreased production of stomach acid
Shrinking of stomach
Frequent, often fatal, diarrhoea
