case 25- nutrition Flashcards
Ageing
A multifaceted process driven by a gradual and lifelong accumulation of molecular and cellular damage that leads to:
Progressive loss of function (in cells, tissues, and organs)
Increased risk of morbidity (multiple diseases)
Disability and death
Heterogeneity and plasticity of ageing process
Diet and ageing
Diet/nutrition play a major determinant in healthy ageing
Diet/nutrition play a pivotal role in health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management
Age and changes in the mouth
1) Dry mouth (xerostomia)- Hyposalivation
2) Reduced sense of taste and smell- damage to olfactory cells
3) Reduced power of chewing muscles
4) Reduced pharyngeal phase of swallowing
5) Anorexia of old age
Age and changes to the stomach
1) Reduced gastric acid production
2) Delayed gastric emptying (solids>liquids). Clinically significant with co-morbidities
Age and functional changes to the GI tract
1) Small intestine- Digestion and absorption of macronutrients is preserved but reduced absorption of Ca, Zn, and vitamin D. Unchanged enterocyte and orocaecal transit
2) Large intestine- Changes that lead to slowed motility and transit (constipation)
3) Rectum-Reduced wall elasticity.Increased wall threshold pressure
4) Anus- Reduced sphincter pressure or reduced anal squeeze pressure
Ageing- structural changes to the mouth
1) Teeth loss/poor dentition- poor mastication
2) Gingival recession
3) Dental caries- oral pain and infection
4) Ill-fitted dentures
5) Edentulous mouth
6) Change in oral mucosa- impaired wound healing
7) Change in jaw bone (bone loss)
8) Oral health related quality of life
Ageing- structural changes to the stomach and rectum
Stomach- Increased prevalence of atrophic gastritis
Rectum- decreased content of fibres for wall elasticity
Ageing- structural changes to the small intestine
Bacterial overgrowth / changes in microbiota
Decreases micronutrient absorption (Ca, Zn)
Decrease in vitamin D receptor intestinal Ca absorption
Metabolic changes with ageing- ageing pancreas
1) Change in morphology and function
2) A metabolically active organ with uptake and breakdown of nutritional components
3) Decrease in volume after age 60 (the pancreatic parenchyma)
associated with decreased perfusion, fibrosis and atrophy →
4) impaired pancreatic exocrine function
5) Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI): 5% in aged 70+, 10% in aged 80+ leading to maldigestion and malnutrition
6) Deficits of fat-soluble vitamins (e.g. vitamin D → decreased BMD)
7) Decreased insulin production of pancreatic beta cells → increase insulin resistance
Metabolic changes with ageing: Glucose intolerance
1) Some degree of glucose intolerance is normal in later life, even in otherwise healthy people
2) After the age of 30: ↑of 5.3 mg/dl in postprandial glucose levels and 1-2 mg/dl in fasting glucose levels for every decade of life1
3) Aetiology: slower glucose absorption, decreased insulin production, reduced lean body mass, decreased physical activity, and altered digestion all contribute to reduced glucose utilisation2
Metabolic changes: Ageing skeletal muscles
1) Skeletal muscle is metabolically active
2) A major site of insulin and exercise stimulated glucose disposal
3) Disruption of the normal rate of glucose uptake by muscles is central to the onset of diabetes
Malnutrition
A state of nutrition in which a deficiency, excess or imbalance of energy, macro and micronutrients causes measurable adverse effects on tissues and body form (body shape, size, and composition), body function and clinical outcomes
Socio-economic factors influencing nutritional health in older adults
Finance, Housing, Neighbourhood, Crime/abuse, Transportation
Personal factors influencing nutritional health in older adults
Nutritional knowledge, Shopping skills, Cooking skills, Diet modification, Physical activity/exercise, Religion
Social factors influencing nutritional health in older adults
Family, friends, isolation
Social factors influencing nutritional health in older adults
Family, friends, isolation
Physiological factors affecting nutritional health in older adults
1) Physiological changes
2) Multiple chronic conditions
3) Mental disorders- depression, anxiety, cognitive impairement/dementia
4) Disability
5) Loss of independence
6) Change in taste, smell and vision
7) Oral health- chewing/swallowing
8) Medication/polypharmacy
9) Poor appetitie
10) Loneliness
Predictors of dietary intake in older adults
1) EU project ‘Food in later life’
2) 5 EU countries
3) Face to face interviews
4) Development of tools to measure nutritional risk and food related quality of life
Prevalence of malnutrition in older adults
1) Most malnourished older adults live in the community: 35% undernourished1 → inadequate intake of nutrient-dense foods. Loneliness & multimorbidity. Underdiagnosed
2) Overnutrition also common contributing to obesity and chronic conditions
3) Energy-dense but nutrient-poor foods- saturated fats (fatty and processed meats), trans fats (margarine, processed baked products), refined carbohydrates (soft drinks, white bread, white rice); sodium (canned and processed foods)
4) Low intake of dietary fibre
5) Alcohol abuse is an important determinant of poor diet
Extent of malnutrition in older adults by health care setting
1) Community: 3.1%
2) Outpatients: 6.0%; home-care services: 8.7%; hospital: 22.0%; nursing homes: 17.5%; long-term care: 28.7%; rehabilitation/sub-acute care: 29.4%.
Medication/Polypharmacy as risk of malnutrition
1) Older adults take multiple medications- On average 6 in the very old (≥85 years) in the Newcastle 85+ Study
2) The risk of food-drug or drug-nutrient interaction is high
3) Food-drug interaction: a process whereby consumption of certain foods can effect the absorption, metabolism, excretion and pharmacodynamics of drugs
4) A drug-nutrient interaction occurs when a drug affects the use of a nutrient in the body and compromises nutritional status
Example of drugs that can affect food absorption
Analgesics- alcohol
Antibiotics- dairy, iron supplements decrease drug absorption
Anticoagulant- foods rich in vitamin K decrease drug absorption
Antihyperlipidemic- food enhances drug absorption
Antihypertensive- grapefruit juice increases drug absorption
Acid blockers- decreases vitamin B12 absorption
Diuretics- increase mineral loss in urine
Laxatives- decrease nutrient absoprtion