1. Life Cycle Nutrition: The Adult Years
Chapter 16

2. Life Expectancy: 1900 vs. 1980 How long can you expect to be healthy?
Avg life expectancy: 78 yrs
Avg healthy life expectancy: 69 yrs
How long can you expect to be healthy?

3. What Causes Aging?
As organisms become older, number of cells decreases and function of remaining cells declines
As tissues and organs lose cells, ability of organism to maintain homeostasis decreases
Loss of cells occurs throughout life but is not felt for a long time, as organisms begin with reserve capacity
Reserve capacity diminishes as we age, and we begin to feel the effects of aging
Reserve capacity: amt of functional capacity an organ has above and beyond what is needed to sustain life
Cell loss occurs due to
-programmed cell death (only divide a certain # of times before kaput)
-wear and tear (errors in DNA, high BG, free radical damage)

4. What Affects the Rate of Aging?
Genes: efficiency with which cells are maintained and repaired--only one factor! Can be diminished by influences from environment and lifestyle
Environment: can contain factors that damage cells
Lifestyle: can either support longevity or speed aging

5. Nutrient Needs in Adulthood
Energy needs typically decline with age
Decreased BMR
Protein, fat, and CHO needs remain about the same
Protein: 0.8 g/kg body weight
Fat: 20-35% of kcals
Avoid trans-fat, get ample EFAs
CHO: 45-65% of kcals
Fiber important for prevention of GI issues and chronic illness
Water: needs remain the same as we age
More challenging to meet these needs in older age
Decreased sense of thirst
Kidneys decline in function, increasing losses
Micronutrients
Recommendations remain the same for most as we age
Increases in recommendations for B6, calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium
Decrease in iron recommendation for women past menopause
Energy needs: when all other factors are unchanged, energy needs decline; drops even more if PA decreases
BMR drop: 2-3% per decade after 20
Fiber: prevention of (GI) constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis and (chronic) DM, CVD, obesity.
Water losses in older age: Medications can increase losses; also, if incontinence is an issue, older adults may restrict water
-problems: symptoms of dehydration; impairs organ function; contributes to constipation

6. Malnutrition in elderly populations: decreased intake plus decreased absorptive capacity
Sensory decline begins around 60-->decreased palatability of food
-Lower production of saliva contributes to issue; also makes it more difficult to swallow

7. Consequences of Malnutrition

8. Federal Nutrition Screening Initiative program developed this checklist for evaluating elderly populations for malnutrition
-physiological, medical, and socioeconomic situations all contribute

9. Nutritional Strategies in Older Age
Maximize nutrient density
Nutritional supplements may be useful
Decreased overall intake
Decreased absorptive capacity
Take care to avoid excesses
Check with healthcare provider to rule out drug-nutrient interactions
Well-balanced MVI; avoid megadoses unless prescribed by health care professional

10. Changes in Body Composition with Age
Sarcopenia: loss of muscle mass and strength
-affects both skeletal muscle used to move body and heart and respiratory muscles needed to move blood around body and breathe
-can lead to state of physical frailty-->general weakness, impaired mobility and balance, poor endurance, susceptibility to falls and fractures
-In adults over 85, loss of muscle strength is major determining factor in ability to live independently
-Changes in muscle protein synthesis and hormones are partially to blame, but lack of PA is also an important contributor

11. Importance of Physical Activity
Extends years of active, independent life
Reduces disabilities
Improves overall quality of life and health
Bone strength
Muscle mass
Cardiorespiratory function
Increases discretionary kcalorie allowance