Nutrition therapy for the older adults and sarcopenia

Abstract

Older adults are at a high risk of developing malnutrition and sarcopenia because of various factors, including diseases, aging, unfavorable living conditions, hormonal changes, and inadequate dietary intake. It is important to screen for malnutrition and sarcopenia using appropriate diagnostic criteria. Malnutrition in older adults should be assessed using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria rather than serum albumin or prealbumin levels. Meanwhile, the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria are preferred for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. These criteria may be useful in identifying the etiology of malnutrition and sarcopenia.

Individualized nutritional therapy can be effective in preventing poor outcomes. Providing effective nutritional therapy requires understanding the effects of energy, protein, and vitamins on malnutrition and sarcopenia. Therefore, it is important to clarify the etiology of malnutrition and sarcopenia when developing nutritional therapy for older adults. Moreover, attention to and individualization of nutritional therapy (energy, protein, and vitamin intake) and exercise intervention may improve these conditions.