Association between serum minerals and malnutrition assessed by GLIM among hospitalized adults: a multicenter...

To evaluate the relationship between single- and multiple-mineral deficiencies and malnutrition, as defined by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria among Chinese inpatients.

A multicenter cross-sectional study of hospitalized patients in hospitals was conducted in China. Information on the inpatients' social demographic characteristics, physical examination, and laboratory test results was collected. Malnutrition was defined on the GLIM criteria. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were used to examine the relationship between individual serum minerals and their counts and malnutrition.

A total of 3,433 hospitalized adults were included in the study. Compared to those with normal mineral levels, patients with serum mineral deficiencies had a 1.43- to 2.31-fold higher likelihood of prevalent GLIM-based malnutrition. After stratifying by age, significant associations were observed only among middle-aged and elderly inpatients. For individuals aged 45 and older, low mineral levels were associated with a higher likelihood of malnutrition compared to normal levels; the ORs (95% CIs) ranged from 1.56 (1.01, 2.39) to 2.96 (1.71, 5.70). Furthermore, inpatients with one, two, and three or more minerals below the normal level had a respective 1.33-, 2.15-, and 2.95-fold higher likelihood of prevalent malnutrition, respectively.

Our study found that serum mineral deficiencies-particularly potassium, sodium, chloride, and phosphorus-are significantly associated with prevalent malnutrition, with this association more pronounced among middle-aged and elderly patients. Moreover, the cumulative burden of mineral deficiencies showed a graded association with the likelihood of prevalent malnutrition, though this association requires further validation in prospective studies.