Page 77 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2024. Zdravje delovno aktivnih in starejših odraslih / Health of Working-Age and Older Adults. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo ▪︎ Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press

Dietary challenges in the population of nursing home residents

1, 2
1
Živa Lavriša , Hristo Hristov , Igor Pravst 1, 2, 3
1 Inštitut za nutricionistiko, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2 Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Ljubljana, Slovenia
3 Fakulteta za aplikativne vede, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction: As life expectancy increases, the number of older adults in the popula-
tion is increasing. In particular, those living in institutions such as nursing homes are
considered a nutritionally more vulnerable population group. An adequate supply of
nutrients and micronutrients is key to maintaining health and preventing health com-
plications. The aim of the research was to find out 1) usual intakes of nutrients and mi-
cronutrients of the Slovenian NH residents, 2) what is the prevalence of malnutrition,
and additionally, 3) what is the prevalence of sarcopenia.
Methods: A nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted as part of
the Nutricare project. We conducted the research in 20 NH from all 9 health regions
of Slovenia. 387 NH residents, aged 65-101, were included. Data were obtained for
the usual daily dietary intake of macronutrients and micronutrients (2x 24h dietary re-
call, food frequency), nutritional status (Mini nutritional assessment), muscle strength
measurements (hand grip with dynamometer), body composition measurements (bi-
oimpedance spectroscopy). We also obtained data on weekly menus for 13 NH.
Results: The risk of malnutrition was detected in approx. 30% of participants, malnutri-
tion in approx. 3%. 39% of males and females had body mass index > 30 kg/m . A high
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intake of fats and foods of animal origin was found. The intake of carbohydrates and
dietary fiber was below the recommended levels, which is a consequence of the mod-
est intake of fruits, vegetables and cereals. Protein intake was lower than 1 g/kg body
weight in 35% of females and 40% of males. Nutrient intakes reflected the nutrition-
al composition of meals in NH. 63% of NH residents are supplementing at least one
micronutrient to their diet, the most common being vitamin D, followed by folate, vi-
tamin B12, magnesium and iron. Dietary intakes were suboptimal for most of the se-
lected micronutrients, including magnesium, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin A,
potassium. Vitamin D deficiency was detected in 30%, vitamin B12 in 22%, folate in
22% of participants. We found a high probability of sarcopenia in 44% of the partici-
pants, and the presence of sarcopenia in 28%. 89% of participants with sarcopenia al-
so had a high proportion of body fat, indicating the presence of sarcopenic obesity. prehrana in zdravje delovno aktivnih in starejših odraslih | nutrition and health of working-age and older adults
Discussion and conclusions: Dietary intakes of NH residents indicate the need to opti-
mize the nutrient intake in accordance with recommendations. It would be necessary
to regularly monitor the nutritional status of NH residents by qualified staff and imple-
ment suitable individually adapted interventions that would help prevent or mitigate
the exposed health risks.
Keywords: older adults, nursing home, dietary intake, nutritional status, sarcopenia

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