Sara Policarpo
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Previous Organizations / Institutes
The organizations / institutes from the scholar's other articles in the past ten years
Research Subjects
Sara Policarpo has a total of 18 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Ana Catarina Moreira
ESTeSl—Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisboa, Portugal
2 shared publications - Helena Cortez-Pinto
Clínica Universitária de Gastrenterologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
2 shared publications Mariana V. Machado
Departamento de Gastrenterologia, CHULN – Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal
2 shared publicationsTeresa Rodrigues
Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Biomatemática, Lisboa, Portugal
2 shared publications- Ana Catarina Paulino1 shared publication
- Ana Craciun
Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- 31 March 2024
- Published by Portuguese Association of Nutritionists in Acta Portuguesa de Nutrição
- Vol. 36, 30-34
Lifestyle in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus: a 5 year follow-up study
INTRODUCTION: Antiretroviral therapy and the appearance of comorbidities in people living with human immunodeficiency virus contribute to an increased cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVES: Assess the evolution of nutritional status, cardiovascular risk and mediterranean diet and physical activity level in a cohort of infected patients. METHODOLOGY: This is a longitudinal observational study based on a cohort previously evaluated and who maintained regular follow-up. Patients were reassessed after 5 years on anthropometric parameters, dietary intake (food frequency questionnaire, MedDietScore), cardiovascular risk (DAD Risk Tool). Physical Activity data was only obtained in the 5th year (International Physical Activity Questionnaire). RESULTS: The sample had an average age of 52.0±9.3years, were mostly male with a mean HIV infection time of 17.9±6.9 years. There was a percentual increase regarding baseline of 2% in type 2 diabetes, 11.4% in dyslipidemia, 0.7% in hypertension and 12.5% in metabolic syndrome. After 5 years, mediterranean diet adherence was higher (28.9±5.2 vs. 27.9±5.7); caloric intake was lower (1781±622 vs. 2173±432); 77.6% had a moderate Physical Activity level and a daily sedentary behavior of 244.4±173.9 minutes; 54.7% had a very high 5 year-CVR. CONCLUSIONS: Aging and the presence of comorbidities are a concern. Lifestyle interventions must be part of the management of the disease.
- 31 March 2024
- Published by Portuguese Association of Nutritionists in Acta Portuguesa de Nutrição
- Vol. 36, 30-34
Lifestyle in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus: a 5 year follow-up study
INTRODUCTION: Antiretroviral therapy and the appearance of comorbidities in people living with human immunodeficiency virus contribute to an increased cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVES: Assess the evolution of nutritional status, cardiovascular risk and mediterranean diet and physical activity level in a cohort of infected patients. METHODOLOGY: This is a longitudinal observational study based on a cohort previously evaluated and who maintained regular follow-up. Patients were reassessed after 5 years on anthropometric parameters, dietary intake (food frequency questionnaire, MedDietScore), cardiovascular risk (DAD Risk Tool). Physical Activity data was only obtained in the 5th year (International Physical Activity Questionnaire). RESULTS: The sample had an average age of 52.0±9.3years, were mostly male with a mean HIV infection time of 17.9±6.9 years. There was a percentual increase regarding baseline of 2% in type 2 diabetes, 11.4% in dyslipidemia, 0.7% in hypertension and 12.5% in metabolic syndrome. After 5 years, mediterranean diet adherence was higher (28.9±5.2 vs. 27.9±5.7); caloric intake was lower (1781±622 vs. 2173±432); 77.6% had a moderate Physical Activity level and a daily sedentary behavior of 244.4±173.9 minutes; 54.7% had a very high 5 year-CVR. CONCLUSIONS: Aging and the presence of comorbidities are a concern. Lifestyle interventions must be part of the management of the disease.
- 30 June 2023
- Published by Portuguese Association of Nutritionists in Acta Portuguesa de Nutrição
- Vol. 33, 6-11
Índice inflamatório da dieta em indivíduos com sucesso na gestão do peso: associação com indicadores de comportamento alimentar e depressão
INTRODUÇÃO: A manutenção do peso perdido a longo prazo é um desafio, pelo que é essencial compreender os fatores envolvidos. OBJETIVOS: Analisar o índice inflamatório da dieta de indivíduos portugueses com sucesso na gestão do peso, explorando a sua associação com a magnitude de perda de peso e o índice de massa corporal, e com indicadores de comportamento alimentar e depressão, assim como explorar a relação destas variáveis entre si. METODOLOGIA: Foram utilizados dados do Registo Nacional de Controlo do Peso (n=205; 59,5% mulheres; 38,97 ± 10,82 anos; 25,76 ± 3,99 kg/m2). A ingestão alimentar foi avaliada através do Questionário semi-quantitativo de Frequência Alimentar, a partir do qual foi calculado o índice inflamatório da dieta; o comportamento alimentar (alimentação emocional e externa) através do Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire; e o nível de depressão através do Beck Depression Index. RESULTADOS: O índice inflamatório da dieta variou de -3,67 a 3,64. Observou-se uma associação negativa entre o índice inflamatório da dieta e a magnitude de perda de peso na amostra total (r=-0,151, p=0,043) e no sexo feminino (r=-0,225, p=0,021). Relativamente ao índice de massa corporal, encontrou-se uma associação positiva com o índice de depressão (r=0,276, p<0,001) e com a alimentação emocional (r=0,284, p<0,001). Adicionalmente, o índice de depressão associou-se de forma positiva com a alimentação externa (r=0,322, p<0,001) e emocional (r=0,403, p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Uma alimentação anti-inflamatória parece associar-se a maior magnitude de perda de peso em mulheres com sucesso na manutenção do peso perdido, o que sugere que o índice inflamatório da dieta poderá ser um fator relevante no que diz respeito à gestão do peso nesta população em particular. À medida que o índice de massa corporal aumenta, parece aumentar também o nível de depressão e a alimentação emocional não só nestas mulheres, mas também nos homens. Uma melhor compreensão da relação entre estes e outros fatores envolvidos na gestão do peso com sucesso poderá ́contribuir para o delineamento de intervenções do estilo de vida mais apropriadas.
- 30 June 2023
- Published by Portuguese Association of Nutritionists in Acta Portuguesa de Nutrição
- Vol. 33, 6-11
Índice inflamatório da dieta em indivíduos com sucesso na gestão do peso: associação com indicadores de comportamento alimentar e depressão
INTRODUÇÃO: A manutenção do peso perdido a longo prazo é um desafio, pelo que é essencial compreender os fatores envolvidos. OBJETIVOS: Analisar o índice inflamatório da dieta de indivíduos portugueses com sucesso na gestão do peso, explorando a sua associação com a magnitude de perda de peso e o índice de massa corporal, e com indicadores de comportamento alimentar e depressão, assim como explorar a relação destas variáveis entre si. METODOLOGIA: Foram utilizados dados do Registo Nacional de Controlo do Peso (n=205; 59,5% mulheres; 38,97 ± 10,82 anos; 25,76 ± 3,99 kg/m2). A ingestão alimentar foi avaliada através do Questionário semi-quantitativo de Frequência Alimentar, a partir do qual foi calculado o índice inflamatório da dieta; o comportamento alimentar (alimentação emocional e externa) através do Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire; e o nível de depressão através do Beck Depression Index. RESULTADOS: O índice inflamatório da dieta variou de -3,67 a 3,64. Observou-se uma associação negativa entre o índice inflamatório da dieta e a magnitude de perda de peso na amostra total (r=-0,151, p=0,043) e no sexo feminino (r=-0,225, p=0,021). Relativamente ao índice de massa corporal, encontrou-se uma associação positiva com o índice de depressão (r=0,276, p<0,001) e com a alimentação emocional (r=0,284, p<0,001). Adicionalmente, o índice de depressão associou-se de forma positiva com a alimentação externa (r=0,322, p<0,001) e emocional (r=0,403, p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Uma alimentação anti-inflamatória parece associar-se a maior magnitude de perda de peso em mulheres com sucesso na manutenção do peso perdido, o que sugere que o índice inflamatório da dieta poderá ser um fator relevante no que diz respeito à gestão do peso nesta população em particular. À medida que o índice de massa corporal aumenta, parece aumentar também o nível de depressão e a alimentação emocional não só nestas mulheres, mas também nos homens. Uma melhor compreensão da relação entre estes e outros fatores envolvidos na gestão do peso com sucesso poderá ́contribuir para o delineamento de intervenções do estilo de vida mais apropriadas.
- Open Access
Do MAFLD Patients with Harmful Alcohol Consumption Have a Different Dietary Intake?
The term metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed to define positively fatty liver disease in the form associated with metabolic risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary intake of MAFLD and explore a possible relationship between its inflammatory characteristics (assessed by Dietary Inflammatory Index—DII®), the degree of liver fibrosis (assessed by transient elastography), and the amount of alcohol intake. MAFLD patients were included (n = 161) and were classified, according to the amount of alcoholic intake, as MAFLD without alcohol intake (n = 77) and MAFLD with alcohol intake (n = 84), with 19 presenting harmful alcoholic consumption. Dietary intake was 1868 ± 415 kcal/day and did not present differences in energy or nutrient intake based on the presence of metabolic comorbidities. Patients with MAFLD and alcohol intake consumed significantly more energy and presented a tendency for higher intake of carbohydrates and sugar. Patients with harmful alcohol intake presented a higher intake of total fat and cholesterol compared with moderate alcohol intake. There were no differences in DII® based on fibrosis severity or the amount of alcohol consumption. This work contributes to the characterization of baseline dietary intake in MAFLD patients, paving the way to design more suited dietary interventional trials.
Open AccessDo MAFLD Patients with Harmful Alcohol Consumption Have a Different Dietary Intake?
The term metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed to define positively fatty liver disease in the form associated with metabolic risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary intake of MAFLD and explore a possible relationship between its inflammatory characteristics (assessed by Dietary Inflammatory Index—DII®), the degree of liver fibrosis (assessed by transient elastography), and the amount of alcohol intake. MAFLD patients were included (n = 161) and were classified, according to the amount of alcoholic intake, as MAFLD without alcohol intake (n = 77) and MAFLD with alcohol intake (n = 84), with 19 presenting harmful alcoholic consumption. Dietary intake was 1868 ± 415 kcal/day and did not present differences in energy or nutrient intake based on the presence of metabolic comorbidities. Patients with MAFLD and alcohol intake consumed significantly more energy and presented a tendency for higher intake of carbohydrates and sugar. Patients with harmful alcohol intake presented a higher intake of total fat and cholesterol compared with moderate alcohol intake. There were no differences in DII® based on fibrosis severity or the amount of alcohol consumption. This work contributes to the characterization of baseline dietary intake in MAFLD patients, paving the way to design more suited dietary interventional trials.
- Open Access
- 1 December 2021
- Published by S. Karger AG in GE - Portuguese Journal of Gastroenterology
- Vol. 29 (6) , 401-408
NAFLD Nutritional Management: Results from a Multidisciplinary Approach
Introduction: Lifestyle changes are the mainstay treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to assess the magnitude of weight loss in a group of NAFLD patients followed on a combined lifestyle intervention by a multidisciplinary team. Methods: Patients were assessed before and after a 12-month dietary intervention (Mediterranean diet aiming at weight loss). Patients who received a structured dietary plan along with general lifestyle recommendations were designated as the multidisciplinary treatment (MdT) group. Patients who declined follow-up still received general lifestyle recommendations and were designated as the conventional treatment group, being used as a control group. Results: From the 77 patients with documented NAFLD, 31.2% of patients were overweight and 55.8% obese; 66 patients constituted the MdT group and 11 the conventional treatment group. After 3 months, 89% of patients lost weight; at 6 months, 75.4% maintained the weight lost. At 12 months, 65% of patients still decreased their weight, with 92.2% of patients in the MdT group still maintaining a lower weight than baseline versus just 50% in the conventional group (p = 0.008). Only patients in the MdT group presented a weight loss higher than 10% (9.6%; n = 6). At 12 months patients in the MdT group presented an average reduction of 4.2 kg versus a reduction of just 0.6 kg in the conventional treatment group (p = 0.016). The MdT group, but not the conventional group, presented significant differences in liver enzymes at 12 months compared to baseline. Conclusion: Adherence to a multidisciplinary approach, compared to management solely by a hepatologist, in NAFLD patients, is effective with greater weight loss after a 12-month follow-up and a lower rate of weight gain recurrence.
- 1 December 2021
- Published by S. Karger AG in GE - Portuguese Journal of Gastroenterology
- Vol. 29 (6) , 401-408
Open AccessNAFLD Nutritional Management: Results from a Multidisciplinary Approach
Introduction: Lifestyle changes are the mainstay treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to assess the magnitude of weight loss in a group of NAFLD patients followed on a combined lifestyle intervention by a multidisciplinary team. Methods: Patients were assessed before and after a 12-month dietary intervention (Mediterranean diet aiming at weight loss). Patients who received a structured dietary plan along with general lifestyle recommendations were designated as the multidisciplinary treatment (MdT) group. Patients who declined follow-up still received general lifestyle recommendations and were designated as the conventional treatment group, being used as a control group. Results: From the 77 patients with documented NAFLD, 31.2% of patients were overweight and 55.8% obese; 66 patients constituted the MdT group and 11 the conventional treatment group. After 3 months, 89% of patients lost weight; at 6 months, 75.4% maintained the weight lost. At 12 months, 65% of patients still decreased their weight, with 92.2% of patients in the MdT group still maintaining a lower weight than baseline versus just 50% in the conventional group (p = 0.008). Only patients in the MdT group presented a weight loss higher than 10% (9.6%; n = 6). At 12 months patients in the MdT group presented an average reduction of 4.2 kg versus a reduction of just 0.6 kg in the conventional treatment group (p = 0.016). The MdT group, but not the conventional group, presented significant differences in liver enzymes at 12 months compared to baseline. Conclusion: Adherence to a multidisciplinary approach, compared to management solely by a hepatologist, in NAFLD patients, is effective with greater weight loss after a 12-month follow-up and a lower rate of weight gain recurrence.
- 1 June 2021
- Published by Elsevier in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
- Vol. 43, 329-334
Telemedicine as a tool for dietary intervention in NAFLD-HIV patients during the COVID-19 lockdown: A randomized controlled trial
- 1 June 2021
- Published by Elsevier in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
- Vol. 43, 329-334
Telemedicine as a tool for dietary intervention in NAFLD-HIV patients during the COVID-19 lockdown: A randomized controlled trial
- Open Access
- 1 July 2019
- Published by Elsevier in Revista Portuguesa de Cardiologia
- Vol. 38 (7) , 463-470
Cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected individuals: A comparison of three risk prediction algorithms
- 1 July 2019
- Published by Elsevier in Revista Portuguesa de Cardiologia
- Vol. 38 (7) , 463-470
Open AccessCardiovascular risk in HIV-infected individuals: A comparison of three risk prediction algorithms
- 1 April 2017
- Published by Elsevier in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
- Vol. 18, 31-36
Adherence to Mediterranean diet in HIV infected patients: Relation with nutritional status and cardiovascular risk
- 1 April 2017
- Published by Elsevier in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
- Vol. 18, 31-36
Adherence to Mediterranean diet in HIV infected patients: Relation with nutritional status and cardiovascular risk
- 1 September 2012
- Published by Elsevier in Clinical Nutrition Supplements
- Vol. 7 (1) , 179
PP104-MON MALNUTRITION, LENGTH OF HOSPITAL STAY AND MORTALITY IN PATIENTS ADMITTED TO A LARGE INFECTIOUS DISEASES DEPARTMENT, IN LISBON, PORTUGAL
- 1 September 2012
- Published by Elsevier in Clinical Nutrition Supplements
- Vol. 7 (1) , 179
PP104-MON MALNUTRITION, LENGTH OF HOSPITAL STAY AND MORTALITY IN PATIENTS ADMITTED TO A LARGE INFECTIOUS DISEASES DEPARTMENT, IN LISBON, PORTUGAL