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Guidelines for nutrition support in the elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2001

A Miján de la Torre ,
B de Mateo Silleras  and
A Pérez-García
A Miján de la Torre*
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine (Nutrition), General Yagüe Hospital, Avda Cid 96, E-09005 Burgos, Spain
B de Mateo Silleras
Affiliation:
Research Unit, General Yagüe Hospital, Burgos, Spain
A Pérez-García
Affiliation:
F García-Lorca Primary Health Care Centre (Insalud), Burgos, Spain
*
*Corresponding author: Email [email protected], [email protected]
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Abstract

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Nutritional support in the elderly not only co-operates inpharmacological treatment but also very often is a primary therapy for their health. The type of artificial nutrition (AN) to use will depend on the present illness and the previous health record. Due to the fact that enteral feeding (EF) is less expensive and aggressive we should use EF whenever possible, leaving parenteral nutrition (PN) for specific situations where EF should not be used. AN, if properly prescribed, formulated, administered and monitored, is safe as long as qualified personnel are trained in its use. Combined AN (oral, enteral and parenteral) allows a step-by-step improvement that could lead to final oral feeding. Finally, while it is true that age should not be considered in isolation as a contraindication for AN, we should be aware that, in final life stages, oral feeding can be the only satisfaction left for the elderly.

Keywords

FrailElderlyEnteral nutritionParenteral nutritionHome artificial nutritionOral feedingNutrition support
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 4 , Issue 6a , December 2001 , pp. 1379 - 1384
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2001

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