Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Chilean Elders According to an Adapted Version of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) Criteria.

Background: Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of mass and skeletal muscle strength and has serious consequences on older people's health. The Chilean older population has a high life-expectancy, but the prevalence of functional dependence is also high.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in Chilean older adults and its relationship with age, gender, and body mass index (BMI).

Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form: Validation in Five Latin American Cities. SABE Study.

Objectives: To validate the short-form of the MNA (MNA-SF) and the cut-off point of 31 cm for calf circumference (CC) in older people in Latin America.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 5,722 community-dwelling older subjects (range: 60-102 years) in Latin America´s five main cities: Sao Paulo (Brazil), Santiago (Chile), Havana (Cuba), Mexico DF (Mexico) and Montevideo (Uruguay). All participants underwent an interview, which included anthropometric measurements, completing the MNA and obtaining socio-demographic, nutrition and health information.

Pilot nutrition and physical activity intervention for preschool children attending daycare centres (JUNJI): primary and secondary outcomes.

Introduction: A pilot intervention was conducted to promote physical activity and nutrition in public preschool education (near half a million children in Chile), in order to prevent obesity.

Objective: To assess the primary (body fat) and secondary outcomes (physical activity and energy intake) of a nutrition and physical activity pilot intervention for preschool children, attending day care centres.

Methods: A pilot intervention in six day care centres selected at random (n = 530), in 4-5 years old preschool children, Santiago, Chile intending to: provide nutritional and physical activity education to educators and health promotion activities for the family, which in turn, will affect the primary (body fat), and secondary outcomes (physical activity pattern and energy food intake) were measured in a representative subsample of 120 intervened and 145 controls children.

FABP2 Ala54Thr polymorphism and diabetes in Chilean elders.

Objective: The FABP2 Ala54Thr polymorphism has been associated with insulin resistance and diabetes in several populations. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of FABP2 genotypes in 223 Chilean subjects (136 women and 87 men aged 65-79 years) and its association with type 2 diabetes in a 4 years follow-up.

Methods: Glucose, Insulin and lipids were measured in fasting plasma samples.

Long-term nutritional and digestive consequences of pelvic radiation.

Objective: To study long-term changes in nutritional status and gastrointestinal (GI) functions of 15 women previously treated with radiotherapy for gynecological cancer. Two years prior to this research, these patients had been assessed twice: before external radiotherapy and 5 weeks later, at the completion of the external dose (45-50 Gy).

Methods: Each patient was given complete clinical evaluation, consisting of dietary, physical activity and digestive symptoms questionnaires.