Van Staveren W A, De Groot C P
Landbouwuniversiteit, afd. Humane Voeding en Epidemiologie, Wageningen.
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1998 Oct 31;142(44):2400-4.
Changes in the body composition of elderly people and diminished physical activity reduce the energy requirement and the daily energy intake. It is especially frail elderly people who run an increased risk of a poor nutritional condition which further enhances fragility. Frailty is often defined as the state of reduced physiologic reserve associated with increased susceptibility to disability. In frail elderly people energy requirement is often reduced. Studies have shown that when energy intake falls below a level of about 6.3 MJ, it is hard to obtain a diet with a sufficient supply of minerals and water soluble vitamins. It is especially the daily intake of vitamins of the B complex and of vitamin C that then prove insufficient. In addition, immobile elderly and elderly of 75 years and older are at risk for an inadequate vitamin D status. An adequate diet is one of the factors that may prevent frail health. Screening lists have been developed to quickly obtain information about the nutritional status of older adults. However, these lists still have to be adapted to the Dutch dietary pattern. Currently, a change of the body weight is the best warning of insufficient nutrition.
老年人身体成分的变化以及身体活动的减少会降低能量需求和每日能量摄入量。尤其是身体虚弱的老年人，其营养状况不佳的风险增加，这进一步加剧了身体的脆弱性。虚弱通常被定义为生理储备减少且易患残疾的状态。在身体虚弱的老年人中，能量需求往往会降低。研究表明，当能量摄入量降至约6.3兆焦耳以下时，很难获得富含矿物质和水溶性维生素的饮食。尤其是B族维生素和维生素C的每日摄入量往往不足。此外，行动不便的老年人以及75岁及以上的老年人存在维生素D水平不足的风险。充足的饮食是预防身体虚弱的因素之一。已经制定了筛查清单，以便快速获取有关老年人营养状况的信息。然而，这些清单仍需根据荷兰的饮食模式进行调整。目前，体重变化是营养不足的最佳警示信号。
