Yudu - Nutrition Care of the Older Adult, 3e

Chapter 1 Nutrition in Older Adults: An Overview

TABLE 1.4 cont. Dietary Reference Intakes for Older Adults Energy, Fluids, and Macronutrients

Recommended Dietary Allowances

Men Aged

Energy (kcal/d)

Drinking water, beverages, water in food (L/d)

Macronutrients Protein (g/d)

Carbohydrate (g/d) Total fat (% kcal/d) n-6 PUFA (g/d) n-3 PUFA (g/d) Total Fiber (g/d)

51–70 y 2,204

3.7 56 130 14

1.6 30

Women Aged

51–70 y 1,978

2.7 46 130 11

1.1 21

Men Aged 70+ y

2,054 2.6

56 130 14

1.6 30

Women Aged 70+ y

1,873 2.1

46 130 11

1.1 21

Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges

N/A N/A

10%–35% 45%–65% 20%–35% 5%–10%

0.6%–1.2% N/A

The vitamin, element, and macronutrient values for this table were excerpted from the Institute of Medicine, Dietary Reference Intakes: Applications in Dietary Assessment, 2000 and Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrates, Fiber, Fat, Protein and Amino Acids (Macronutrients) 2002. Fluid and electrolyte values for this table were excerpted from the Institute of Medicine, Dietary Reference Intakes: Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate, 2004.

Source: National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging, Florida International University. Dietary Reference Intakes for older adults. http://nutritionandaging.fiu.edu/DRI_and_DGs/DRI_and_RDAs.asp. Revised March 19, 2003. Accessed January 25, 2015.

bleeding, and St. John’s wort taken with reuptake ser- tonin-inhibitors, increasing the risk of serotonin syn- drome in older adults” (66). Many older adults receive their information (whether relevant or not) about herbal products from the Internet. Eighty percent of 338 retail websites identified in a search of the eight most widely used herbal supplements (ie, ginkgo biloba, St John’s wort, echinacea, ginseng, garlic, saw palmetto, kava, and valerian root) made at least one health claim sug- gesting that the therapy could treat, prevent, or even cure specific conditions (66).

SUMMARY

Nutrient requirements tend to increase with age, yet energy needs decrease. There are well-documented occur- rences of altered or reduced rates of digestion, absorption, metabolism, and excretion within the GI system; poor dentition and periodontal disease also affect a significant number of older adults, and medications are known to change nutrient requirements or nutrient metabolism. It is imperative that health care providers regularly assess nutritional status in older people and intervene to ensure that optimal achievable nutritional status is maintained. The health, well-being, and quality of life for the aging

population is improved when timely, person-driven, coor- dinated preventive and interventional nutritional care is provided.

REFERENCES 1. Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. Older Americans 2012: Key Indicators of Well-Being. www.agingstats.gov/agingstatsdotnet/main_site/ default.aspx. Published June 2012. Accessed December 15, 2015.

2. Administration on Aging. Census data and population estimates, 2010. www.aoa.acl.gov/Aging_ Statistics/Census_Population/Index.aspx. Accessed December 15, 2015.

3. Administration on Aging. A profile of older Americans. www.aoa.acl.gov/Aging_Statistics/Profile/2013/ docs/2013_Profile.pdf. Accessed December 15, 2015.

4. Vincent GK, Velkoff VA. The Next Four Decades: The Older Population in the United States: 2010 to 2050. Current Population Reports. Washington, DC: US Dept of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, US Census Bureau; May 2010:1-25. www.census .gov/prod/2010pubs/p25-1138.pdf. Accessed January 6, 2015.