Comprehensive nutritional assessment of frail older adults and a tailored protein-enhanced diet as a way to improve the nutritional status

Abstract

\nPurpose\nFrailty is a geriatric syndrome which can be reversible or less severe through appropriate nutritional interventions. In the present study, to test the efficiency of individualized nutritional intervention was conducted a comprehensive assessment of the nutritional status of frail older adults and evaluation of the effect of nutritional intervention on the nutritional status of pre-frail older patients.\n\n\nDesign/methodology/approach\nFrail older adults (n\u2009=\u200943; mean age 84.6\u2009±\u20096.4 years old; 81.4% women) had nutritional status assessed using nutritional anthropometry, body composition, and food frequency questionnaire. Pre-frail patients (n\u2009=\u200916; mean age 68.4\u2009±\u20095.5 years old; 81.3% women) for eight weeks were consuming 1.0\u2009g protein/kg BW/day. Robust older adults formed a control group (n\u2009=\u200929; mean age 69.3\u2009±\u20095.3 years old; 82.8% women).\n\n\nFindings\nFrail older adults had weight and muscle mass loss, and their diet variety was sufficient. After the intervention, pre-frail patients increased their protein consumption by 25.8% (P\u2009=\u20090.002). An increase in lean body mass (+1.0\u2009kg), skeletal muscle mass (+0.3\u2009kg) and improvement in physical performance was also observed.\n\n\nOriginality/value\nAn individual diet for pre-frail older adults can reverse weight loss and increase lean body mass, furthermore preventing or delaying the development of frailty syndrome. Moreover, increased protein consumption improves physical performance of pre-frail older adults.\n