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Browsing by Author "Guerra, Rita S."

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  • 2021-09Conference object Open access Show more
  • Sitting time and associated factors among Portuguese older adults: results from Nutrition UP 65
    Publication . Sousa, Ana Sofia; Mendes, Joana; Guerra, Rita S.; Padrão, Patrícia; Moreira, Pedro; Santos, Alejandro; Borges, Nuno; Afonso, Cláudia; Martins, Cátia; Ferro, Graça; Amaral, Teresa F.
    Older adults are particularly susceptible to sedentary behaviours. Sitting time has been increasingly referred to as a potentially modifiable risk factor in the prevention of chronic diseases. Identifying factors associated with sitting time, particularly those that are modifiable, will allow for more effective public health strategies. This study aimed to describe sitting time among Portuguese older adults and to evaluate associated factors. A cross-sectional study including 1423 older adults ≥ 65 years old was conducted. Sitting time was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Socio-demographic, health, anthropometric and functional variables were collected. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression models were conducted to study the association between these variables and sitting time. The median of sitting time was 300 min/day (interquartile range = 240 min/day), which is equal to 5 h/day. The following factors were directly associated with longer sitting time: being male, age ≥ 80 years, living in Central or Southern Portugal, being retired from work, as well as presenting low physical activity, obesity or longer time to walk 4.6 metres. On the other hand, being married, having higher education and higher household income were inversely associated with longer sitting time. It can be concluded that Portuguese older adults spend a considerable amount of time sitting per day. Potentially modifiable risk factors associated with longer sitting time in this population were related to nutritional status and functional ability.
    2019-09-12Journal article Restricted access Show more
  • Sodium and potassium urinary excretion and their ratio in the elderly: results from the Nutrition UP 65 study
    Publication . Moreira, Pedro; Sousa, Ana Sofia; Guerra, Rita S.; Santos, Alejandro; Borges, Nuno; Afonso, Cláudia; Amaral, Teresa F.; Padrão, Patrícia
    Background: We aimed to describe urinary sodium and potassium excretion and their ratio in a representative sample of Portuguese elderly population, according to sociodemographic characteristics and weight status. Methods: A cluster sampling approach was used, representing older Portuguese adults (≥65 years) according to age, sex, education level, and regional area within the Nutrition UP 65 study. This cross-sectional evaluation was conducted in 2015 and 2016. From a sample size of 1,500 participants, 1,318 were eligible for the present analysis, 57.3% were women, and 23.5% were aged ≥80 years. Sodium and potassium consumption was evaluated through one 24 h urinary excretion. Inadequate sodium intake was defined as ≥2,000 mg/day, inadequate potassium intake was considered as <3,510 mg/day, and inadequate sodium-to-potassium ratio was defined as >1, according to the World Health Organization cutoffs. Results: The proportion of the participants with an inadequate intake was 80.0% in women and 91.5% in men (sodium), 96.2% of women and 79.4% of men (potassium), and 98.4% of women and 99.1% of men (sodium- to-potassium ratio). Higher sodium adequacy was observed among the older elderly, unmarried, with lower household income, and underweight/normal weight. Higher potassium adequacy was observed in the younger elderly, married, and with higher income. Conclusion: The majority of the Portuguese elderly population was classified as having inadequate sodium, potassium, and sodium-to-potassium ratio urinary excretion. Therefore, strategies for reducing sodium and increasing potassium intake are priorities in the Portuguese elderly population.
    2018-02-27Journal article Open access Show more
  • The Effect of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate on Muscle Strength and Functional Outcomes in Older Adults
    Publication . Mendes, Joana; Guerra, Rita S.; Sousa, Ana S.
    Nutritional intervention is increasingly being recognized as playing an important role in functional status. The supplementation with β‑hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), which is a metabolite of an essential amino acid, may be an effective nutritional intervention to improve muscle strength and functionality in older adults. The aim of this narrative review was to present an updated overview of the effects of HMB supplementation in older adults, specifically on muscle strength and functional outcomes. A PubMed database search was performed and only randomized controlled trial studies were included. More than half of the 14 analyzed studies reported that HMB supplementation improved muscle strength and other functional outcomes. HMB supplementation has demonstrated some promising effects on muscle strength and functional outcomes in older adults with different conditions of health and physical activity.
    2024Journal article Restricted access Show more