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Nutrition, ageing and ill health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2007

S. E. Gariballa  and
A. J. Sinclair
S. E. Gariballa*
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Geriatric Medicine, The University of Birmingham, The Hayward Building, Selly Oak Hospital, Raddlebarn Road, Birmingham B29 6JD, UK
A. J. Sinclair
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Geriatric Medicine, The University of Birmingham, The Hayward Building, Selly Oak Hospital, Raddlebarn Road, Birmingham B29 6JD, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Dr S. E. Gariballa, fax +44 (0)121 627 8304, email [email protected]
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Abstract

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There are physical, mental, social and environmental changes which take place with ageing; for example, decreased physical activity, increase in body fat, decrease in lean body mass and consequently decreased energy intake may be associated with physiological functions that affect metabolism, nutrient intake, physical activity and risk of disease. There are now many studies which have found that undernutrition is prevalent and often unrecognized in patients admitted to hospitals and institutions. There is also evidence which links protein-energy undernutrition or its markers with clinical outcomes in acute and non-acute hospital settings and that nutritional supplements can improve outcomes in some of these settings. However, most clinically-available nutrition screening instruments lack sensitivity and specificity, and abnormal nutritional indicators may simply reflect effects of age, functional disability, or severe underlying disease. Thus, causal relationship cannot be assumed without a sufficiently powerful intervention study which adequately adjusts for the effects of non-nutritional factors, such as the number and severity of co-morbid conditions on clinical outcome.

Keywords

NutritionAgeingIll healthClinical outcome
Type
Review Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 80 , Issue 1 , July 1998 , pp. 7 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1998

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