Nutrition and Aging

		Bernadette Latson, MS, RD/LD Section Editor, Nutrition in Aging Section Editor, Vitamins and Dietary Supplements -Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Nutrition -Director, Coordinated Program in Clinical Dietetics UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Malnutrition in the Oldest Old
Posted: January 2005
Source: Bernadette Latson, MS, RD/LD

People who are over 85 years of age, called the "oldest old" in the US Census, are the fastest-growing segment of the US population. Many of the oldest old may have achieved their longevity in part due to attention to their health and we often hear about their efforts to eat a "healthy diet". The frail 90 year old man says he can't eat eggs because of his cholesterol though he has difficulty chewing meat and the thin 85 year old lady just lost another ten pounds last month because she avoids all starchy foods since she learned her blood sugar was high during a recent hospitalization.

But just as medication needs may change with age, there is no "one size fits all" healthy diet and many of the diet restrictions employed in old age may do more harm than good.

Aging adults may need to be reminded that nutrition prescriptions expire as their health status changes. A low cholesterol diet recommendation at age 50 does not necessarily mean the prescription continues to be valid at age 90!

Dental problems and difficulty shopping and cooking were factors found prevalent in an older population studied the month before hospital admission compared with a reference group living at home who were not hospitalized. The benefit of eating eggs as a protein source substitute for meat is likely to outweigh the risk of raising cholesterol. Eggs have a long shelf life, are easy to prepare and economical which makes them ideal food for many older people.

Although the scientific and popular literature makes frequent reference to the risks of obesity for the global population, unintentional weight loss and a low BMI are major risk factors for disease and death in aging adults. Weight loss in old age indicates further loss of lean body mass (muscle) that has already been diminished by age and inactivity.

The Nutrition Screening Initiative identified inappropriate food intake, including attempts to follow inappropriate restrictive diets, as a major risk factor for malnutrition. Access the DETERMINE nutrition screening instrument at http://www.aafp.org/x17367.xml to check if you or your older loved ones are at nutritional risk.