Search Results (420)

Background and Objectives: The effect of growth hormone (GH) on body composition is well recognized, and recombinant human GH (rGH) therapy may improve lean mass and related parameters. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in body composition parameters and lipid profile under rGH treatment in children diagnosed with short stature and to explore potential influencing factors. Materials and Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted in the Endocrinology Department of the Mures County Hospital, Romania, approved by the local Ethics Committee. All children diagnosed with short stature and receiving rGH treatment were eligible for inclusion if they had four body composition analyses at least 6 months apart. Analyzed variables included age, gender, environment, mean rGH dose, height and body mass index (BMI) SDS, body composition parameters assessed by bioimpedance, and family-related variables. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.25 with a level of significance α = 0.05. Results: There was no statistically significant trend in body composition parameters taken during serial measurements, except for the sarcopenic index and height (p < 0.001). Environment, pubertal development, and family-related variables other than maternal BMI had no significant influence on body composition or lipid profile. Gender differences in body composition revealed that the change in muscle mass (p = 0.009) and skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.013) was statistically significantly higher for boys, and body fat (p = 0.013) for girls. In linear regression analysis, mother’s BMI emerged as a significant predictor for changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (p = 0.032, β = −0.691) during rGH therapy. Body composition changes did not differ by treatment indication. Conclusions: Gender may be associated with treatment-related changes in body composition during pediatric rGH therapy, while maternal BMI may predict HDL-C variation. rGH treatment appears to improve the sarcopenic index and has minimal and variable effects on the lipid profile. Full article

Background: Radiotherapy is a common treatment for gynecological malignancies, often accompanied by significant side effects that impact patient nutritional status. The ketogenic diet has been proposed as a complementary nutritional strategy to enhance treatment efficacy, manage side effects, and preserve body composition. However, its safety and feasibility in the oncological setting remain under-investigated. Methods: The KOMPARC study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial evaluating the adherence, safety, and clinical tolerability of a ketogenic diet versus a standard Mediterranean diet in patients with cervical and endometrial cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Before the start of the treatment, patients were randomized to either the ketogenic diet or the standard diet groups. Anthropometric measures, Hand Grip Test, and body composition parameters from bioimpedance analysis were taken before the start of treatment and at the end. Adherence, adverse events, and patient-reported outcomes were monitored throughout the treatment period. Results: A total of 33 patients were enrolled. Adherence rates were comparable between the KD and standard diet groups (46.1% vs. 25.0% interruption rate, p = 0.21). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of gastrointestinal toxicities (p = 0.56), diarrhea (p = 0.81), nausea (p = 0.94), or weight loss (p = 0.24). Both groups experienced significant weight reduction during therapy without differential loss of body cell mass or other body composition parameters. Quality of life assessments indicated varied symptom profiles, with the KD group reporting increased appetite loss and worry about weight. Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that the ketogenic diet is a safe and feasible nutritional intervention during radiotherapy for pelvic tumors. These results support further investigation into ketogenic dietary strategies as adjuncts in oncologic care. Full article

Sarcopenia is highly prevalent among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic heart failure (CHF), yet the underlying immunometabolic mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), inflammatory cytokines, and body-composition alterations may jointly contribute to the development of muscle dysfunction in this population. In this cross-sectional study, 80 patients with CKD and CHF underwent comprehensive clinical, biochemical, bioimpedance, inflammatory, and SCFA profiling. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to EWGSOP2 criteria. Multivariable logistic regression, LASSO feature selection, correlation analysis, PCA, and Random Forest modeling were used to identify key determinants of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was present in 39 (49%) participants. Patients with sarcopenia exhibited significantly lower body fat percentage, reduced ASM, and slower gait speed. Hexanoic acid (C6) showed an independent positive association with sarcopenia (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.08–5.37), while IL-8 showed an inverse association with sarcopenia (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.13–0.94), indicating that lower IL-8 levels were more frequently observed in individuals with sarcopenia. Correlation heatmaps revealed distinct SCFA–cytokine coupling patterns depending on sarcopenia status, with stronger pro-inflammatory clustering in C6-associated networks. The final multivariable model integrating SCFAs, cytokines, and body-composition metrics achieved excellent discrimination (AUC = 0.911) and good calibration. Sarcopenia in CKD–CHF patients represents a systemic immunometabolic disorder characterized by altered body composition, chronic inflammation, and dysregulated SCFA signaling. Hexanoic acid (C6) and IL-8 may serve as informative biomarkers of muscle decline. These findings support the use of multidimensional assessment and highlight potential targets for personalized nutritional, microbiota-modulating, and rehabilitative interventions. Full article

Background/Aim: Extracellular-to-total body water ratio (ECW/TBW) and phase angle (PhA, PA) reflect hydration and cellular health, but their relationship with bone, muscle, and fat, as primary components of body composition, is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate sex-specific differences in body composition and assess the diagnostic potential of ECW/TBW and PhA for identifying low bone/muscle mass, as well as increased fat mass, in generally healthy adults. Methods: This post hoc analysis utilized data from a multicenter, cross-sectional, Italian study (2010–2014) that included 20–90 years adults (n = 9717). Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance (BIA-ACC, BioTekna^®), assessing bone, muscle mass, fat mass, ECW, TBW, and PhA. Low bone/muscle mass, as well as adiposity, were defined using standard cutoffs. Associations were examined using nonparametric tests and multiple regression analyses. Results: The mean age of men and women was similar (mean ~48 years). Men had significantly higher body mass index (BMI), intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT%), T-score (bone), S-score (muscle), and PhA, while women had significantly higher fat mass (FM%) and ECW/TBW. ECW/TBW showed excellent discrimination for low muscle mass (AUC 0.845–0.922) and low bone mass (AUC 0.696–0.885), outperforming PhA. Neither ECW/TBW nor PhA reliably predicted increased fat mass. Regression models indicated ECW/TBW was strongly associated with age, sex, BMI, fat mass, and bone/muscle scores (R² = 0.943), whereas PhA’s association was moderate (R² = 0.368). Conclusions: ECW/TBW and PhA reflected sex-specific differences for body composition and effectively identified low muscle and bone mass (with better predictability of the former). Both showed a limited predictive ability for fat mass. Overall, both parameters provide complementary insights into sarcopenia and osteopenia and could be used for easy and non-invasive screening for these conditions. Full article

The growing interest in sustainable additive manufacturing has driven research into customized biocomposite filaments reinforced with natural fibers. This study evaluates the influence of flax fiber content (5–15 wt%) on the thermal, rheological, morphological, and mechanical properties of fully bio-based polyamide PA10.10 filaments intended for fused deposition modeling (FDM). Filaments containing up to 15 wt% flax fibers were produced using both conventional single-screw extrusion and the METEOR^® elongational mixer to compare shear- and elongation-dominated dispersive mechanisms. Increasing flax loading enhanced stiffness (up to +84% tensile modulus at 15 wt%) but also significantly increased porosity, particularly in METEOR-processed materials, leading to reduced strength and intrinsic viscosity. Microscopy confirmed fiber shortening during compounding and revealed porosity arising from moisture release and insufficient fiber wetting. Rheological analysis showed the onset of a pseudo-percolated fiber network from 10 wt%, while excessive porosity at higher loadings impeded melt flow and printability. Based on the combined evaluation of the mechanical performance, dimensional stability, and processability, a 5 wt% flax formulation was identified as the optimal compromise for FDM. A functional automotive demonstrator (Fiat 500 dashboard fascia) was successfully printed using optimized FDM parameters (nozzle 240 °C, bed 75 °C, speed 20 mm s⁻¹, 0.6 mm nozzle, 0.20 mm layer height, and 100% infill). The part exhibited controlled shrinkage and limited warpage (maximum 1.8 mm across a 165 × 180 × 45 mm geometry with a 3 mm wall thickness). Dimensional accuracy remained within ±0.7 mm relative to the CAD geometry. These results confirm the suitability of PA10.10/flax biocomposites for sustainable, lightweight automotive components and provide key structure–processing–property relationships supporting the development of next-generation bio-based FDM feedstocks. Full article

Elderly patients with femoral fractures need specific rehabilitation after surgery that aims to improve their self-reliance and life quality, reducing their mortality rate. Although worsening patient body composition increased the risk of an unfavourable prognosis, it remains unclear whether evaluating bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) parameters can predict any functional recovery. A longitudinal design was conducted on 45 elders (84.59 ± 7.18 years, 75.6% female) who underwent femoral surgery to examine BIA features as rehabilitation biomarkers. The patient’s body composition, assessed by anthropometry and bioimpedance analysis (BIA), and self-reliance were evaluated three times during follow-up in both healthy and surgical lower limbs. The ANCOVA test, adjusted for gender and side of surgery, found improvements in daily living activities, while only thigh circumferences decreased over time. Regarding the BIA, the surgical leg showed a wider decrement in bioelectrical resistance (R), whereas the bioelectric reactance (Xc) exhibited similar trends. Females who underwent surgery on their dominant leg showed significant changes (p < 0.001) in bioimpedance vectorial analysis (BIVA), with a linear trend from baseline to postoperative time, while males exhibited beneficial variations only between baseline and time 2 (p < 0.01). Geriatric patients exhibit characteristic traits that require additional attention. BIA may be a feasible and non-invasive method for monitoring patient prognosis and reducing national health system costs. Full article

Sleep disordered breathing can cause serious health issues, yet current diagnostic methods are cumbersome and prone to error. Thoracic electrical bio-impedance (BioZ) is a promising alternative, but it remains unclear whether the measured BioZ variations reflect lung volume changes. We leverage linear reductions in lung volume during central sleep apnea (CSA) events to assess whether BioZ measurements capture changes in lungs. BioZ signals from 92 sleep studies were analyzed using linear regression to quantify their slope and linearity ($R^2$). Group differences were assessed, and a linear mixed-effects model was used to evaluate the impact of the body mass index (BMI), gender, and sleeping position. Welch’s ANOVA showed significant differences between CSA and breathing segments. A chi-squared analysis showed that CSA events were more likely to exhibit negative slopes. The mixed-effects model found no BMI or gender effects, but the supine posture was significantly associated with more negative linear trends. These findings indicate that BioZ captures lung volume changes and that the sleeping position significantly modulates how clearly these changes appear in the signal. Full article

Background/Objectives: Long COVID (LC) is characterized by persistent symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and reduced quality of life, often lasting months after acute infection. Exercise-based interventions have shown promise, but evidence for non-aerobic programs remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week motor control exercise program on body composition and fatigue in women with LC and to explore associations with physical activity and psychosocial factors. Methods: An exploratory pre–post non-controlled intervention study was conducted in 17 women with LC symptoms persisting for over one year. Participants completed 24 individualized sessions of a non-aerobic therapeutic exercise program focused on trunk stabilization. Outcomes included body composition (bioimpedance analysis), fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), physical activity (IPAQ), and kinesiophobia (TSK-11). Paired t-tests, effect sizes, correlations, and regression models were applied. Results: The intervention significantly reduced total body fat (37.09% to 35.41%, p < 0.001) and trunk fat (35.82% to 33.82%, p < 0.001), with large effect sizes. Physical and psychosocial fatigue improved markedly (MFIS physical: 29.71 to 21.06, p < 0.001; psychosocial: 6.00 to 4.29, p = 0.001), while cognitive fatigue showed non-significant change. Pain/discomfort scores decreased substantially (2.86 to 1.79, p < 0.001). Vigorous activity and walking time increased, and sedentary time decreased. No significant changes were observed in muscle mass or kinesiophobia. Conclusions: A structured, non-aerobic exercise program can effectively reduce body fat, alleviate fatigue, and improve pain perception in women with LC, supporting its role in rehabilitation. Multimodal strategies may be required to address cognitive symptoms and fear of movement. Full article

Background and Objectives: Individuals with chronic tetraplegia frequently present altered body composition and metabolic dysregulation, which may not be adequately reflected by traditional markers such as body mass index. This study aimed to evaluate body composition, dietary patterns, and biochemical profiles in adults with chronic tetraplegia, and to explore cross-domain associations between these outcomes. Materials and Methods: Eleven adults with chronic tetraplegia underwent anthropometric assessment (BMI, body fat %, triceps skinfold), dietary evaluation, and fasting biochemical analysis (lipids and glucose). Data distribution was tested with Shapiro–Wilk. Between-sex comparisons were explored with Mann–Whitney U tests. Pearson correlations were performed across domains (diet—body composition; diet—biochemical markers; body composition—biochemical markers). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Despite normal BMI values, participants showed elevated body fat percentages. Dietary intake was characterized by excessive lipid consumption and suboptimal protein contribution. Cross-domain correlations revealed that higher energy and macronutrient intakes were associated with one another. Protein intake was inversely correlated with triglyceride levels (r = −0.63, p = 0.038), while triceps skinfold showed a strong correlation with body fat percentage (r = 0.78, p = 0.004). Fasting glucose was positively correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.61, p = 0.046). Most correlations did not reach statistical significance, likely due to limited sample size, but provided exploratory insight into the interplay between diet, adiposity, and metabolic markers. Conclusions: Individuals with chronic tetraplegia may exhibit increased adiposity and early metabolic alterations despite normal BMI and modest reported energy intake. These findings reinforce the inadequacy of BMI for nutritional assessment in SCI and highlight the need for integrated evaluation—including body composition, dietary quality, and biochemical monitoring—to guide personalized interventions aimed at reducing cardiometabolic risk. Full article

Background: Ultramarathon running represents an extreme physiological and metabolic challenge. Despite its growing popularity among recreational and competitive runners, evidence-based guidance for nutrition, energy balance, and recovery remains limited. Understanding metabolic response and hormonal regulation during such events is crucial for improving athletes’ health and performance. Methods: This prospective observational study examined participants of the 2024 TorTour de Ruhr^® (100 km, 160.9 km, and 230 km). Pre- and post-race assessments included body composition, energy intake and expenditure, metabolic and hormonal biomarkers (leptin, ghrelin, insulin, glucagon, irisin, creatine kinase muscle type (CKM), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)), and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Blood and saliva samples, bioimpedance analysis, and validated symptom questionnaires (General Assessment of Side Effects (GASE)) were used. Results: Of the 43 ultra runners (16 women, 27 men), 39 finished the race: 19 participants of the 100 km group, 8 of the 160.9 km group, and 16 of the 230 km group. Mean energy deficit was 6797 kcal (range: 417–18,364 kcal) with carbohydrate-dominant fueling (79%). Significant reductions in leptin and insulin and increases in ghrelin, glucagon, CKM, and LDH were observed, indicating disrupted energy homeostasis and muscle damage. The 230 km subgroup showed the greatest changes. Gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal symptoms increased post-race, aligning with biomarker patterns. Conclusions: Ultramarathon participation induces profound disturbances in metabolic and structural integrity, regardless of race distance. These findings underline the importance of developing individualized nutritional and recovery strategies and highlight the need for future research to investigate how energy deficit and macronutrient composition interact to influence metabolic strain and post-race recovery. Full article

Physical activity (PA) and body composition (BC) are important indicators of overall health, especially in children, with the school environment being a key setting for the promotion of PA and prevention of overweight and obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a specific national experimental schooling program (“Primary School as Whole-Day School”) on changes in PA and BC in early-school-aged children in Croatia. The participants were 128 children aged 9–11 years from southern Croatia (53 girls) who participated in whole-day (n = 54, 20 girls) or regular-schooling-programs (n = 74, 33 girls) over a period of one school year (9 months). A pre-to post-measurement design was applied, with directly (via GENEActiv accelerometers) and indirectly (by PAQ-C questionnaire) measured PA, and body composition measurements (via bioimpedance analysis) as independent variables. A multifactorial ANOVA (Group × Gender × Time) was applied to evaluate the effects. The results indicated significant (p < 0.05) ANOVA effects for indirectly measured PA and the accelerometer-derived moderate-to-vigorous PA, with favorable changes in the whole-day schooling group. The changes in directly measured PA were particularly evident in boys involved in whole-day schooling. There were no significant effects of the experimental program on body composition. While the experimental program was effective in increasing PA, the lack of positive changes in body composition could be explained by the relatively short study period and the absence of accompanying dietary strategies. Although promising, the results highlight the complexity of influencing health-related outcomes in early-school-aged children. Full article

Assessment of microcirculation status during surgical interventions is of significant interest for monitoring tissue perfusion and controlling the effectiveness of systemic hemodynamics. This study investigated the applicability of the electrical impedance method for the quantitative assessment of changes in the blood supply to superficial head tissues during cardiac surgeries. Impedance signal recording was performed synchronously with laser Doppler flowmetry, allowing for the comparison of parameter dynamics reflecting microcirculatory processes. Analysis of a set of impedance parameters reflecting the amplitude and temporal characteristics of the pulse signal revealed consistent changes with microvascular indicators obtained by laser Doppler flowmetry. The most pronounced changes in impedance parameters were observed during transitions between key physiological states—induction of anesthesia, initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass, and its termination. This indicates the informativeness of the electrical impedance method for assessing the dynamics of scalp perfusion. The obtained results demonstrate its potential for non-invasive, continuous, and safe monitoring of microcirculation in superficial tissues in the operating room. This approach can be considered as an additional tool for comprehensive assessment of microcirculatory changes and improving the accuracy of tissue perfusion monitoring during cardiac surgeries. Full article

Phase angle (PhA) is a widely used bioimpedance index associated with cell mass, membrane integrity, skeletal muscle mass and quality, and body fluid distribution. This study aims to investigate the relationship between PhA and body fat, which is poorly defined in the current literature. The analysis involved 1533 adults of both sexes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Anthropometry, bioimpedance analysis, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were used to estimate body mass index (BMI), PhA (at 50 kHz), and body fat, respectively. Non-linear cubic spline regression models were applied to examine the associations between PhA and fat mass (FM), BMI, fat mass index (FMI), and FM%. The relationship between PhA and body fat was non-linear. An initial positive slope was observed with FM, FMI and BMI, followed by a decline, whereas FM% exhibited a flatter initial pattern before decreasing. Men showed more pronounced flection points, at lower fat levels (FM: 23 kg; FMI: 9 kg/m²; BMI: 37 kg/m²; FM%: 25.5%) than women (FM: 34 kg; FMI: 16 kg/m²; BMI: 32 kg/m²; FM%: 42.5%). Although most associations were significant, the explained variance of the relationships was lower than 10%. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a weak and non-linear relationship between PhA and body fat. This suggests that PhA variability is predominantly influenced by factors other than fat, a point that warrants consideration in both clinical and routine practice. Full article

Background: This pilot longitudinal observational study investigated 4-week changes in lower limb muscle quantity and quality in patients with subacute stroke and explored risk factors associated with these changes. Methods: Twenty-six patients with hemiplegia following subacute stroke underwent assessment at baseline and 4-week follow-up. Muscle quantity was evaluated by ultrasound muscle thickness and bioelectrical impedance analysis, while muscle quality was assessed by shear-wave elastography in seven muscles (rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis [VL], vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius [GCM], and soleus). Electrophysiological assessments included motor-evoked potential (MEP), somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP), nerve conduction studies (NCSs), and central motor conduction time (CMCT). Results: Muscle thickness and bioimpedance did not significantly change between baseline and follow-up. In contrast, shear modulus increased in the paretic-side VL and GCM muscles (p < 0.001 and p = 0.049), with no differences in the non-paretic side. Greater deterioration in GCM quality was observed in patients with abnormal lower-limb MEP, and increased VL stiffness correlated with prolonged CMCT. Multivariable analyses were performed adjusting for age, sex, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and comorbidity burden; however, due to the small electrophysiology sample (n = 11), these results should be interpreted as exploratory. Conclusions: In subacute stroke, early deterioration in muscle quality can occur despite stable quantity and appears linked to corticospinal integrity. Integrating electrophysiological evaluation with elastography may help identify patients who could benefit from early, targeted neuromuscular rehabilitation. These exploratory findings require validation in larger cohorts. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body fat percentage, anthropometric measurements, and the microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes in female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This was a single-center, cross-sectional study. A total of 146 female patients who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the diabetes clinic of a training and research hospital were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and skinfold thickness were recorded. Body fat percentage was assessed using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. The presence of retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and macrovascular complications was documented. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In our study, the median age of the participants was 63.0 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 17.21 ± 8.37 years. Retinopathy was detected in 30 patients (20.5%), nephropathy in 41 patients (28.1%), neuropathy in 46 patients (31.5%), and macrovascular complications in 48 patients (32.9%). When weight was controlled as a constant variable, patients with retinopathy, nephropathy, and macrovascular complications had a statistically significant increase in waist circumference compared to those without these complications (p < 0.05). Suprailiac skinfold thickness was found to be positively associated with both retinopathy and nephropathy (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In our study, no significant differences were observed in body fat measurements assessed by bioimpedance analysis and skinfold thickness between female patients with and without diabetic complications. Waist circumference measurement, which can be easily performed in primary health care settings, appears to be a much more important indicator of both macrovascular and microvascular complication risk in female patients with diabetes compared to bioimpedance and skinfold thickness methods. Full article