Poor nutrition risk in older adults countered by eating well

+Practice

In print

Nutrition

Poor nutrition risk in older adults countered by eating well

27 March 2024

Leigh O'Brien

Wednesday 27 March 2024, 12:15 AM

Many older adults do not eat enough protein [Image: Elena Leya on Unsplash]

Dietitian Leigh O’Brien discusses the specific nutritional considerations for older adults

Key points, Older adults require more dietary protein than younger adults to minimise age-related muscle mass decline. Calcium and vitamin D requirements are hi, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

1. Bauer J, Biolo G, Cederholm T, et al. Evidence-based recommendations for optimal dietary protein intake in older people: a position paper from the PROT-AGE Study Group. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2013;14(8):542–59.

2. Wham C, Teh R, Moyes SA, et al. Macronutrient intake in advanced age: Te Puāwaitanga o Ngā Tapuwae Kia ora Tonu, Life and Living in Advanced Age: A Cohort Study in New Zealand (LiLACS NZ). Br J Nutr 2016;116(6):1103–15.

3. Tay E, Barnett D, Leilua E, et al. The diet quality and nutrition inadequacy of pre-frail older adults in New Zealand. Nutrients 2021;13(7):2384.

How to Treat

+How to treat

Polypharmacy

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM