Etude de l'association entre la consommation en polyphénols, l'obésité et ses comorbidités chez les personnes âgées vivant à domicile en région liégeoise

Abstract

Context : Obesity is more and more common in our society and suggests a lot of public health work, especially among seniors who are the most affected by the problem. Obesity causes chronic complications that rarely occur alone in the elderly, which implies impact on morbidity, mortality and health care costs. Many studies report the interest of polyphenols in the management of these chronic dysfunctions. Studies on the subject are becoming more frequent and reveal anti-obesity, anti-diabetes and cardio-protective effects. It could also slow osteoarthritis and dyslipidaemias: pathologies often found in overweight seniors. Purpose : The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between polyphenol consumption, the presence of obesity and associated diseases among seniors living at home in the region of Liege. Population : The sample is made up of 74 elderly people between 65 and 85 years old and participating in abdominal aortic aneurysm screening in the town of Sprimont. Method : A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was distributed to participants. These had to evaluate their dietary intake (frequency and amount) of the 3 months before the enquiry. This questionnaire made it possible to evaluate the quantities of polyphenols ingested thanks to the database Phenol-Explorer. A medical survey was also distributed. Results : Several correlation and comparison tests of paired averages were used to evaluate the association between the polyphenols, the weight status and the chronic diseases. No results are significant. The same analyses were then performed taking into account foods rich in polyphenols (fruits, vegetables and drinks). Only the consumption of vegetables seems to have an influence on the type 2 diabetes because it differs significantly between groups (p=.01). Conclusion : Polyphenols don’t appear to be significantly associated with the probability of being obese or suffering from chronic diseases. However, research on larger scale associating the use of a FFQ and bio markers are necessary to provide a clear opinion on their effectiveness.