The interplay between nutrition and body composition

Stress and malnutrition are associated with altered body composition. Extracellular fluid increases, with wt gain, but in response to stress BCM may gradually shrink with wt loss. In catabolic illness there is extracellular fluid expansion and erosion of AT and BCM. In stress, net loss of body fat was associated with interstitial accumulation of lipids preferentially in muscle, although BIA did not indicate increased fat and decreased water. Severe trauma and sepsis exerted prolonged effects on tissue electrolyte and water metabolism. Treatment of the critically-ill is of the primary illness. Nutritional therapy is an effective adjunct except in chronic sepsis or critical patients with MOF with great wt and protein loss. Glutamine dipeptides may help with cellular hydration and address catabolic changes.