Protein Intake from Various Foods Sources Is Negatively Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Italian Older Adults.

Objectives: To examine the relationships between protein intake from various food sources and cardiometabolic risk markers in Italian older adults.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Unconventional settings across Italy (e.

Adherence to aerobic training combined with high protein intake is associated with low blood pressure in Italian older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Lifestyle habits have a key role in cardiometabolic health. The effects of combined aerobic training (AT) and high protein intake (HPI) on cardiometabolic parameters in older adults are not well established.

Aims: To investigate the association of AT and HPI with blood pressure (BP), blood glucose, and total blood cholesterol levels in a sample of Italian older adults enrolled in the Longevity Check-up 7 + (Lookup 7 +) study.

Malnutrition in COVID-19 survivors: prevalence and risk factors.

Background: Nutritional status is a critical factor throughout COVID-19 disease course. Malnutrition is associated with poor outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of malnutrition and identify its associated factors in COVID-19 survivors.

Inadequate Physical Activity Is Associated with Worse Physical Function in a Sample of COVID-19 Survivors with Post-Acute Symptoms.

-Patients affected by Long COVID often report shorter times spent doing physical activity (PA) after COVID-19. The aim of the present study was to evaluate potential associations between PA levels and parameters of physical function in a cohort of COVID-19 survivors with post-acute symptoms, with a particular focus on individuals aged 65 and older. -PA levels before and after COVID-19 were assessed in a sample of patients that had recovered from COVID-19 and were admitted to a post-acute outpatient service at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS (Rome, Italy).

Protein Intake Is Associated with Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels in Italian Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The present study was conducted to test the association between protein intake and blood pressure, glucose levels, and blood cholesterol in a large sample of Italian older adults. Longevity Check-up 7+ (Lookup 7+) is an ongoing project that started in June 2015. The project is conducted in unconventional settings (e.

Fatigue in Covid-19 survivors: The potential impact of a nutritional supplement on muscle strength and function.

Background: Fatigue with reduced tolerance to exercise is a common persistent long-lasting feature amongst COVID-19 survivors. The assessment of muscle function in this category of patients is often neglected.

Aim: To evaluate the potential impact of a daily supplementation based on amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and plant extracts (Apportal®) on muscle function, body composition, laboratory parameters and self-rated health in a small group of COVID-19 survivors affected by fatigue.

Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements for Older Adults with Long COVID-19.

The persistence of COVID-19 symptoms weeks or months after an initial SARS-CoV-2 infection has become one of the most burdensome legacies of the pandemic. This condition, known as long COVID syndrome, affects many persons of all age groups and is associated with substantial reductions of quality of life. Several mechanisms may be involved in long COVID syndrome, including chronic inflammation, metabolic perturbations, endothelial dysfunction, and gut dysbiosis.

Sarcopenia as potential biological substrate of long COVID-19 syndrome: prevalence, clinical features, and risk factors.

Background: Severe clinical pictures and sequelae of COVID-19 disease are immune mediated and characterized by a 'cytokine storm'. Skeletal muscle has emerged as a potent regulator of immune system function. The aim of the present study is to define the prevalence of sarcopenia among COVID-19 survivors and the negative impact of sarcopenia on the post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and its related risk factors.

Effects of a New Multicomponent Nutritional Supplement on Muscle Mass and Physical Performance in Adult and Old Patients Recovered from COVID-19: A Pilot Observational Case-Control Study.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of a specific oral nutritional supplement among patients recovered from COVID-19 but suffering symptoms of fatigue.

Methods: This is an observational case-control study involving a sample of 66 COVID-19 survivors divided in two groups, 33 subjects in the intervention group who received the nutritional supplement and 33 subjects in the control group. The nutritional supplement received by subjects in the active group was based on amino acids; vitamin B6 and B1; and malic, succinic and citric acids.

Association between vitamin D status and physical performance in COVID-19 survivors: Results from the Gemelli against COVID-19 post-acute care project.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of vitamin D deficiency in COVID-19 survivors and the relationship between vitamin D status and physical performance.

Methods: Vitamin D status was assessed in a sample of patients who had recovered from COVID-19 and were admitted to a post-acute outpatient service at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS (Rome, Italy). Participants were offered comprehensive medical assessment, including physical performance and muscle strength tests.

The sarcopenia and physical frailty in older people: multi-component treatment strategies (SPRINTT) project: description and feasibility of a nutrition intervention in community-dwelling older Europeans.

Background: The "Sarcopenia and Physical Frailty in Older People: Multicomponent Treatment Strategies" (SPRINTT) project sponsored a multi-center randomized controlled trial (RCT) with the objective to determine the effect of physical activity and nutrition intervention for prevention of mobility disability in community-dwelling frail older Europeans. We describe here the design and feasibility of the SPRINTT nutrition intervention, including techniques used by nutrition interventionists to identify those at risk of malnutrition and to carry out the nutrition intervention.

Methods: SPRINTT RCT recruited older adults (≥ 70 years) from 11 European countries.

Relationship between cardiovascular health metrics and physical performance in community-living people: Results from the Longevity check-up (Lookup) 7+ project.

Cardiovascular health metrics (CHMs) may predict disability independent of vascular events. Though, the link between CHMs and physical performance is unclear. This relationship was explored using data from the Longevity check-up (Lookup) 7+ project.

Cardiovascular health metrics, muscle mass and function among Italian community-dwellers: the Lookup 7+ project.

Background: Primordial prevention is essential for promoting cardiovascular health and longevity through the so-called seven cardiovascular health metrics (CHMs) (i.e. smoking, body mass index, diet, physical activity, blood pressure, blood glucose and total cholesterol).

Animal-Derived Protein Consumption Is Associated with Muscle Mass and Strength in Community-Dwellers: Results from the Milan EXPO Survey.

Objectives: Behavioral factors, including protein intake, influence the quantity and quality of skeletal muscle. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between animal-derived protein intake and muscle mass and function in a large sample of unselected community-dwellers.

Material And Methods: The VIP (Very Important Protein) study, conducted during Expo 2015 in Milan, was a population survey aimed at assessing major health metrics in a population outside of the research setting, with a special focus on the relation between animal-derived protein intake and muscle mass and function.

Sarcopenia: An Overview on Current Definitions, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Sarcopenia, the progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength/function associated with aging, increases the risk of a vast array of adverse health outcomes, including falls, morbidity, loss of independence, disability, and mortality. As such, sarcopenia poses a huge socioeconomic burden in developed countries. The development and implementation of effective interventions against sarcopenia are therefore a public health priority.

Physical activity and exercise as countermeasures to physical frailty and sarcopenia.

The identification of cost-effective interventions that improve the health status and prevent disability in old age is one of the most important public health challenges. Regular physical activity is the only intervention that has consistently been shown to improve functional health and energy balance and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, several cancers, depression and falls. In advanced age, physical activity is also effective at mitigating sarcopenia, restoring robustness, and preventing/delaying the development of disability.

Measurement of muscle mass in sarcopenia: from imaging to biochemical markers.

Sarcopenia encompasses the loss of muscle mass and strength/function during aging. Several methods are available for the estimation of muscle or lean body mass. Popular assessment tools include body imaging techniques (e.

Age-Related Variations of Muscle Mass, Strength, and Physical Performance in Community-Dwellers: Results From the Milan EXPO Survey.

Objectives: Declining muscle mass and function are hallmarks of the aging process. The preservation of muscle trophism may protect against various negative health outcomes. Age- and sex-specific curves of muscle mass, strength, and function, using data from a large sample of community-dwelling people, are necessary.

Integrated control of brown adipose tissue.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has evolved as a unique thermogenic organ that allows placental mammals to withstand cold environmental temperatures through the dissipation of metabolic energy in the form of heat. Although traditionally believed to be lost shortly after birth, metabolically active BAT depots have recently been identified in a large percentage of human adults. Besides classical brown cells, a distinct type of thermogenic adipocytes named beige or brite (brown in white) cells are recruited in white adipose tissue depots under specific stimuli.

Protein Intake and Muscle Health in Old Age: From Biological Plausibility to Clinical Evidence.

The provision of sufficient amounts of dietary proteins is central to muscle health as it ensures the supply of essential amino acids and stimulates protein synthesis. Older persons, in particular, are at high risk of insufficient protein ingestion. Furthermore, the current recommended dietary allowance for protein (0.

Operationalization of the physical frailty & sarcopenia syndrome: rationale and clinical implementation.

Over the years, different operational definitions have been elaborated to identify frail older persons, but none of them has received unanimous consensus. This, in turn, has hampered the clinical implementation of frailty as well as the design of targeted interventions. To overcome the current limitations in the field, a novel operationalization of physical frailty (PF) is proposed which grounds its roots in the recognition of sarcopenia as its central biological substrate.

Anorexia of Aging: Risk Factors, Consequences, and Potential Treatments.

Older people frequently fail to ingest adequate amount of food to meet their essential energy and nutrient requirements. Anorexia of aging, defined by decrease in appetite and/or food intake in old age, is a major contributing factor to under-nutrition and adverse health outcomes in the geriatric population. This disorder is indeed highly prevalent and is recognized as an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality in different clinical settings.

Pre-hospital dietary intake correlates with muscle mass at the time of fracture in older hip-fractured patients.

Background: Failure to meet an adequate dietary intake is involved in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia and osteoporosis, which in turn increase the risk for falls and fractures, respectively. Older people with hip fracture are often protein-malnourished at hospitalization. Whether low protein-energy intake is associated with muscle atrophy in hip-fractured patients is presently unknown.