Feng Gaojie, Liu Chen, Sun Xiaohong, Liu Xiaohong, Lu Fei, Li Yuanyuan, Zhou Yaru
Department of Geriatrics, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Front Nutr. 2025 May 20;12:1606008. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1606008. eCollection 2025.
With global aging, diet education and oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are recognized for improving nutrition and appetite in older adults, yet evidence on anorexia of aging (AA) mechanisms and interventions remains limited in China. This study aimed to evaluate diet education and ONS efficacy for AA in Chinese community-dwelling older adults.
In an open-label, non-randomized controlled trial, 64 eligible participants were allocated to an ONS group (supplementation) or a diet education group. The Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) assessed AA, with follow-ups at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12. Primary outcomes were SNAQ improvements; secondary outcomes included weight, grip strength, nutritional status (BMI, MNA-SF), cognition (MMSE), mobility (SPPB), mental health (GDS15), and quality of life (EQ-5D).
Younger, non-solo-living, and malnourished participants preferred ONS intervention ( < 0.05). Both groups showed increased SNAQ scores versus baseline (counseling: weeks 4/8/12; ONS: weeks 2/4/8/12), with ONS achieving significantly greater improvement at week 2 ( < 0.05). Weight remained unchanged in both groups ( > 0.05). Diet education increased grip strength at week 12 ( < 0.05), while no significant improvements occurred in BMI, cognition, mobility, or quality of life.
Both ONS and diet education alleviated AA over 12 weeks, but ONS demonstrated earlier efficacy (significant SNAQ improvement by week 2). However, ONS did not enhance weight, physical function, or cognitive outcomes.
Approved by Peking Union Medical College Hospital Ethics Committee (I-23PJ661), registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (MR-11-23-023104).
随着全球老龄化，饮食教育和口服营养补充剂（ONS）被认为有助于改善老年人的营养状况和食欲，但在中国，关于衰老性厌食（AA）机制及干预措施的证据仍然有限。本研究旨在评估饮食教育和ONS对中国社区居住老年人AA的疗效。
在一项开放标签、非随机对照试验中，64名符合条件的参与者被分配到ONS组（补充剂组）或饮食教育组。采用简化营养食欲问卷（SNAQ）评估AA，在第2、4、8和12周进行随访。主要结局是SNAQ的改善情况；次要结局包括体重、握力、营养状况（BMI、MNA-SF）、认知（MMSE）、活动能力（SPPB）、心理健康（GDS15）和生活质量（EQ-5D）。
年龄较小、非独居且营养不良的参与者更倾向于ONS干预（P<0.05）。两组的SNAQ评分均较基线有所增加（咨询组：第4/8/12周；ONS组：第2/4/8/12周），ONS组在第2周的改善更为显著（P<0.05）。两组体重均无变化（P>0.05）。饮食教育在第12周增加了握力（P<0.05），而BMI、认知、活动能力或生活质量方面无显著改善。
ONS和饮食教育在12周内均减轻了AA，但ONS显示出更早的疗效（第2周SNAQ显著改善）。然而，ONS并未增加体重、身体功能或认知结局。
经北京协和医院伦理委员会批准（I-23PJ661），在中国临床试验注册中心注册（MR-11-23-023104）。
