Dietary intake and nutritional status in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Endocrinol Diabetes Nutr (Engl Ed). 2018 Nov;65(9):533-539. doi: 10.1016/j.endinu.2018.05.009. Epub 2018 Jul 8.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Despite the influence of diet on inflammation, dietary habits in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are not well established. The study objective was to assess dietary intake and nutritional status in SLE patients.

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 92 patients with SLE. Nutritional status was determined by body mass index (BMI) and energy/nutrient distribution of diet was analyzed and compared to a control group. Dietary reference intakes (DRIs) issued by the Spanish Societies of Nutrition, Feeding and Dietetics (FESNAD) and the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC) were used as reference.

Results: Body mass index was normal in 53.26% of patients, while 43.48% had excess weight. Energy, protein, and fat intake was significantly lower in the SLE group (p=0.003, p=0.000, and p=0.001 respectively). Protein and fat contribution to total energy was higher, while that of carbohydrate and fiber was lower than recommended. Most patients did not reach the recommended intake for iron (88%), calcium (65.2%), iodine (92.4%), potassium (73.9%), magnesium (65%), folate (72.8%), and vitamins E (87%) and D (82.6%), but exceeded the recommendations for sodium and phosphorus.

Conclusions: Spanish SLE patients have an unbalanced diet characterized by low carbohydrate/fiber and high protein/fat intakes. Significant deficiencies were seen in micronutrient intake. Dietary counseling to improve nutrition would therefore be advisable in management of SLE.

Keywords: Autoimmune; Autoinmune; Body weight; Dietary habits; Dietary intake; Estado nutricional; Hábitos dietéticos; Ingesta dietética; Lupus eritematoso sistémico; Nutrición; Nutrition; Nutritional status; Peso corporal; Systemic lupus erythematosus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diet*
  • Eating*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Nutritional Status*