Micronutrients and Older Adults

production, and gingivitis can affect the ability to chew and swallow, thereby affecting the variety of foods that might be consumed. A reduction in olfactory stimulation and diminished taste perception can lead to poor appetite and decreased enjoyment of eating, thereby resulting in inappropriate food choices, decreased nutrient intake, weight loss, and increased morbidity. Boosting the odor and flavor of food has been reported to increase the appeal of food, which may in turn increase intake. “Anorexia of aging ” is common in older adults after ages 65-70, thereby increasing the risk for undernutrition. Nonphysiologic causes of anorexia associated with aging include poverty, isolation, depression, dementia, problems with dentition, dysphagia, and medications. Dysgeusia, reduced sensory-specific satiety, gastric dysmotility, altera