Nutritional Needs of the Elderly - Diet and Nutrition

Nutritional Needs of the Elderly

Illness and multiple medications, along with the aging process itself, necessitate that the elderly be particularly conscientious about daily nutrition, especially caloric intake. In some cases, elderly people may need to increase the calories in their diet in order to maintain their body cell mass. Also, according to an article by M.F. Martin in the April 1992 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , if elderly people inadvertently decrease their caloric intake, it takes longer for them to subsequently restore body cell mass.

Elderly people should also monitor their energy expenditure regularly. One U.S. study reviewed by S. B. Roberts in the December 1992 issue of the International Journal of Obesity compared the energy requirements (listed in the RDAs) for healthy elderly men and the total energy they used in their daily activities. The study concluded that the RDAs for the elderly significantly underestimate their particular energy requirements. The study also found that the low levels of nutrients suggested by the RDAs may favor the build-up of unnecessarily high levels of body fat mass. Therefore, elderly people may find they need to consume more than the RDAs recommended for their age group, and should be sure to monitor both their body cell mass and body fat mass.