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Background: Malnutrition among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subjects is well documented in the literature and may arise from factors including inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption, and disease activity. The aims of this present study were to complete a comprehensive nutrition assessment of IBD subjects., Methods: One hundred twenty-six consecutive adults with IBD completed anthropometric measures, 4-day food-record assessments, and biochemical markers of nutrition., Results: A high prevalence of inadequate nutrient consumption was observed: vitamin E (63%), vitamin D (36%), vitamin A (26%), calcium (23%), folate (19%), iron (13%), and vitamin C (11%). Several biochemical deficiencies were also observed. The prevalence of subnormal serum levels was hemoglobin (40%), ferritin (39.2%), vitamin B(6) (29%), carotene (23.4%), vitamin B(12) (18.4%), vitamin D (17.6%), albumin (17.6%), and zinc (15.2%). Dietary intake was not correlated with serum levels in all instances; there was a highly significant correlation between diet and serum values of vitamin B(12), folate, and vitamin B(6) for all IBD subjects, independent of disease activity, and for vitamin D among all IBD subjects in remission., Conclusions: Subjects with IBD have a high rate of iron deficiency and anemia, which are most likely not secondary to diet. Supplementing with iron should be warranted only if a true iron deficiency exists. The routine evaluation of serum vitamin B(6) and vitamin D levels is recommended. Routine multivitamin supplementation is warranted in IBD in view of numerous dietary and biochemical deficiencies observed among adult IBD subjects. Even if subjects with IBD seem to be well nourished, they may harbor vitamin/mineral deficiencies.

Background: The Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) is a validated nutrition assessment tool that is not commonly used to evaluate the nutritional status of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in critically ill medical patients using the SGA and to determine whether the SGA was predictive of patient outcome. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 57 consecutive patients admitted to a single tertiary care medical ICU and requiring mechanical ventilation over a 6-month time period. All SGA assessments were performed by a single dietitian trained in this assessment technique. Multiple factors including patient demographics, severity of illness, length of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and mortality were abstracted from the charts. Results: The prevalence of malnutrition on admission as assessed by the SGA was 35%. Severity of illness as determined by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was not different between the SGA groups. Mortality rates were significantly higher in the moderately (45.5%) and severely malnourished (55.6%) groups than in the well-nourished group (10.8%; P = .004). Conclusion: Malnutrition on admission is common in critically ill medical patients. Malnutrition, as assessed by SGA at admission to ICU, is associated with increased mortality and thus can serve as a valuable prognostic tool in the assessment of critically ill patients. Given that that the SGA is a simple bedside assessment, it should be considered for routine use in assessing critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]