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Approaches to Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security in the Elderly

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Sustainable Nutrition in a Changing World

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Abstract

Aging is not a single process, but an accumulation of modifications, affecting different parts of the body to varying degrees. An estimated 2 billion people aged 60 years and older will inhabit the planet in 2050. Advancing age increases the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Epidemiologically, there is a direct link between nutritional status and several NCDs. There is compelling evidence that good nutrition is instrumental for maintaining good health among the elderly population, yet the value of high-quality dietary intake is often under-recognized. Vitamins B, D, E, polyunsaturated fatty acids and protein are especially important for maintaining health in older adults. Elderly individuals are particularly at risk of not receiving the nutrition required for maintaining their good physical and mental health status due to societal, familial, economical or medical reasons. The economic power of individuals, along with food prices, influences people’s food choices. Accumulative evidence strongly suggests that food security is closely associated with demographic characteristics, food expenditure, variables and food supplement consumption. The focus of this article is on the parameters influencing nutrition (and malnutrition) within the elderly population, and this group’s specific micronutrient needs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., R&D Human Nutrition and Health, P.O. Box 2676, Bldg. 205/216, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland

    M. H. Mohajeri, P. Weber & M. Eggersdorfer

Authors
  1. M. H. Mohajeri
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  2. P. Weber
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  3. M. Eggersdorfer
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Correspondence to M. H. Mohajeri .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Hans Konrad Biesalski

  2. Nutritional Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Adam Drewnowski

  3. Tufts Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Johanna T. Dwyer

  4. Northern Irerland Centre for Food a, University of Ulster Northern Irerland Centre for Food a, Coleraine, United Kingdom

    JJ Strain

  5. DSM Nutritional Products Europe Ltd. , Kaiseraugst, Switzerland

    Peter Weber

  6. DSM Nutritional Products Europe Ltd. , Kaiseraugst, Switzerland

    Manfred Eggersdorfer

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Mohajeri, M.H., Weber, P., Eggersdorfer, M. (2017). Approaches to Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security in the Elderly. In: Biesalski, H., Drewnowski, A., Dwyer, J., Strain, J., Weber, P., Eggersdorfer, M. (eds) Sustainable Nutrition in a Changing World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55942-1_28

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