Segurança alimentar em domicílios chefiados por idosos, Brasil

A segurança alimentar nos domicílios chefiados por idosos tem uma dimensão especial no que se refere às condições de saúde e bem-estar, uma vez que parece evidente a importância de garantir a este contingente populacional a possibilidade de continuar a contribuir na sociedade de forma ativa e produtiva. OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de insegurança alimentar em domicílios cujos chefes são idosos, segundo características sociodemográficas. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo descritivo com domicílios cujos chefes têm 60 anos ou mais de idade declarada, selecionados da Pesquisa Nacional de Amostra de Domicílios - PNAD 2004. Empregou-se a Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar, classificando-se os domicílios em segurança alimentar e insegurança alimentar leve, moderada e grave. A análise descritiva dos dados incluiu a distribuição de frequência dos domicílios de acordo com os níveis de insegurança alimentar nos estratos das variáveis sociodemográficas, levando-se em consideração o efeito do desenho. RESULTADOS: O estudo mostrou que 29,8% dos domicílios se encontravam na condição de insegurança alimentar e que tal condição estava significativamente associada com regiões menos abastadas (Norte/Nordeste, rural), com os segmentos populacionais mais desfavorecidos (mais pobres e menos escolarizados) e, ainda com características de gênero (mulheres) e raciais (indígenas, pardos e pretos) as quais sabidamente ocupam os níveis inferiores da hierarquia social. CONCLUSÃO: A distribuição da insegurança alimentar em domicílios chefiados por idosos segue tendência similar dos domicílios brasileiros, ratificando a maior prevalência desta condição nos estratos socioeconômicos mais desfavorecidos da população ou entre características associadas à pobreza.

Beta-alanine (Carnosyn (TM)) supplementation in elderly subjects (60-80 years): effects on muscle carnosine content and physical capacity

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on exercise capacity and the muscle carnosine content in elderly subjects. Eighteen healthy elderly subjects (60-80 years, 10 female and 4 male) were randomly assigned to receive either beta-alanine (BA, n = 12) or placebo (PL, n = 6) for 12 weeks. The BA group received 3.2 g of beta-alanine per day (2 x 800 mg sustained-release Carnosyn (TM) tablets, given 2 times per day). The PL group received 2 x (2 x 800 mg) of a matched placebo. At baseline (PRE) and after 12 weeks (POST-12) of supplementation, assessments were made of the muscle carnosine content, anaerobic exercise capacity, muscle function, quality of life, physical activity and food intake. A significant increase in the muscle carnosine content of the gastrocnemius muscle was shown in the BA group (+85.4%) when compared with the PL group (+7.2%) (p = 0.004; ES: 1.21). The time-to-exhaustion in the constant-load submaximal test (i.e., TLIM) was significantly improved (p = 0.05; ES: 1.71) in the BA group (+36.5%) versus the PL group (+8.6%). Similarly, time-to-exhaustion in the incremental test was also significantly increased (p = 0.04; ES 1.03) following beta-alanine supplementation (+12.2%) when compared with placebo (+0.1%). Significant positive correlations were also shown between the relative change in the muscle carnosine content and the relative change in the time-to-exhaustion in the TLIM test (r = 0.62; p = 0.01) and in the incremental test (r = 0.48; p = 0.02). In summary, the current data indicate for the first time, that beta-alanine supplementation is effective in increasing the muscle carnosine content in healthy elderly subjects, with subsequent improvement in their exercise capacity.

Effect of Nintendo Wii (TM)-based motor and cognitive training on activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson's disease: A randomised clinical trial

Objectives To investigate the effect of Nintendo Wii (TM)-based motor cognitive training versus balance exercise therapy on activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson's disease. Design Parallel, prospective, single-blind, randomised clinical trial. Setting Brazilian Parkinson Association. Participants Thirty-two patients with Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 and 2). Interventions Fourteen training sessions consisting of 30 minutes of stretching, strengthening and axial mobility exercises, plus 30 minutes of balance training. The control group performed balance exercises without feedback or cognitive stimulation, and the experimental group performed 10 Wii Fit (TM) games. Main outcome measure Section II of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-II). Randomisation Participants were randomised into a control group (n = 16) and an experimental group (n = 16) through blinded drawing of names. Statistical analysis Repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). Results Both groups showed improvement in the UPDRS-II with assessment effect (RM-ANOVA P < 0.001, observed power = 0.999). There was no difference between the control group and the experimental group before training {8.9 [standard deviation (SD) 2.9] vs 10.1 (SD 3.8)}, after training [7.6 (SD 2.9) vs 8.1 (SD 3.5)] or 60 days after training [8.1 (SD 3.2) vs 8.3 (SD 3.6)]. The mean difference of the whole group between before training and after training was -0.9 (SD 2.3, 95% confidence interval -1.7 to -0.6). Conclusion Patients with Parkinson's disease showed improved performance in activities of daily living after 14 sessions of balance training, with no additional advantages associated with the Wii-based motor and cognitive training. Registered on http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT01580787). (C) 2012 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.