Protein-based diet lowers malnutrition risk in older adults

A protein-based dietary pattern appears to reduce the risk of malnutrition in older adults when considering an adequate energy intake, suggests a study.

“This should be taken into account when designing and disseminating food-based guidelines for healthy ageing,” the authors said.

This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of the community-dwelling Portuguese population aged ≥65 (n=849, mean age 74.1 years) and collected data using computer-assisted, face-to-face interviews. Dietary patterns were derived a posteriori based on two 24-h recalls by a latent class transition model.

The authors evaluated nutritional status using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and measured body mass index (BMI). They estimated associations through regression models. MNA score was reversed and log-transformed considering its skewed distribution.

Two dietary patterns were identified: protein-based foods (highest consumption of legumes, meats, and sweets), followed by 22.0 percent of the studied population, and Mediterranean (highest consumption of vegetables, fruits, dairy, cereals/tubers, bread, fishery, and olive oil), followed by 59.1 percent of the participants. In addition, 18.9 percent switched between these patterns (in-between dietary pattern).

The protein-based foods dietary pattern correlated with better MNA score (β, 0.716, 95 percent confidence interval, 0.533–0.962) after adjustment as compared to the Mediterranean diet, particularly for total energy intake up to 2,200 kcal/day.

No significant associations were observed between dietary patterns and BMI.