[Nutrition and nutritional status of underweight patients]

Insufficient body weight is one of the manifestations of nutritional disorders. Diseases associated with malnutrition occur in 10-12% of the population. The aim of the work was to study indicators of nutritional status and actual nutrient intake in patients with insufficient body weight. Material and methods. The study included 48 women aged 31.4±11.8 years, with a body mass index below 18.5 kg/m2. The body composition was estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Nutrient intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaire, physical activity was evaluated by the survey method, using the computer program "Evaluation of nutrition", also blood biochemical parameters were determined. Results. Body fat mass was below average values in 93.8% of patients, while only 50.0% of women had a skeletal muscle deficiency, and 10.4% surveyed had skeletal muscle mass above average values. The energy value of the daily diet was 1982± 282 kcal, and daily energy expenditure was 2158±255 kcal. In the structure of the diet, fats prevailed (42.0±10.5% of daily calorie intake) and there was a significant lack of total carbohydrates (39.9±10.4% of daily calorie intake) and dietary fiber. Fat intake was exceeded in 92.9% of patients. Insufficient carbohydrate intake was also observed in 92.9% of patients. In most patients, daily intake of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, B vitamins did not reach the recommended level, while sodium and phosphorus intake was excessive. The nutrient intake imbalance affected blood biochemical parameters in hypercholesterolemia (in 41.7% of patients) and hypertriglyceridemia (31.3%), and decreased calcium (30.0%), iron (12.8%) and vitamin D (52.2%) levels. Conclusion. Thus, for underweight patients, correction of the diet and dispensary observation is required to determine body composition and biochemical parameters, in particular, the fat and muscle components of the body weight, lipid metabolism indicators, the supply with macro- and micronutrients in order to develop treatment and prevention tactics of diet-related diseases, combined with reduced body weight.