The Importance of Nutrition and Preventing Malnutrition in Older Adults: A Literature Review and Informational Booklet

Over years of studying nutrition science and gerontology, there was very little information in classes that combined these two important topics. Older adults are often classified as those above the age of 65 years old. There is a growing number of older adults in the United States, which increases the need for information on how nutrition and aging are interlaced. As humans age, multiple factors can impact nutrition. Nutrition involves consuming the proper amount of nutrients to maintain body function. There are physiological, physical, socioeconomic and medication factors that can all influence nutrition status. It is important to be aware of these influences to prevent malnutrition, deficiencies or other negative impacts. Specific recommendations and how to overcome obstacles that may inhibit proper nutrition in older adults are discussed. A systematic review was performed to gather data. PubMed was the main database used. Additional data was found on various informational websites to supplement the data found on PubMed. The date restrictions were set between 2018 and 2020. A few articles were used before 2018 because the information was necessary to supplement the topics discussed. There are serious implications of malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies that can be prevented through the proper knowledge and awareness