[Nutritional problems of persons qualified for the methadone treatment. Part I. Nutritional status of opiate addicts]

The aim of the study was assessment of the nutritional status of opiate addicted persons. The study was carried out on 44 opiate abusers (14 women aged from 21-33 years and 30 men aged from 21-46 years), who were classified to methadone maintenance treatment. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometry methods and body composition was examined using bioelectric impedance. BMI (body mass index) of examined women ranged from 16.4 to 30.8, and BMI of examined men ranged from 17.1 to 44.9. 21% of women and 44% of men had BMI < 15th centile (this indicates undernutrition), 7% of women and 3% of men had BMI > 85th centile (this indicates overnutrition). The medium body fat content for women was 8.7 +/- 6.3 kg (14.7% of body weight), for men 9.5 +/- 8.5 kg (11.9% of body weight). 50% of women and 53% of men had body fat deficiency upper 5% of range adjusted for age and sex, body fat excess upper 5% of range revealed 14% of women and 17% of men. The water content for examined women was 35.5 +/- 6.9 L (62.8 of body weight), for men 47.4 +/- 8.4 L (58.8% of body weight). Water deficiency upper 5% of range revealed 7% of men, 86% of women and 53% of men had water excess upper 5% of range. The lean body mass for women was 48.2% +/- 7.2 kg (85.4% of body weight), for men 62.7 +/- 10 kg (88.4% of body weight). Anthropometry as well as examination of body composition indicate prevalence of energy protein malnutrition among opiate addicted.