Nutrition is a major factor in health of ageing people

The study, which mapped the reasons why some populations age healthier than others, highlighted how the nutrient profile of individuals is connected to biological characteristics associated with hypertension or obesity, as well as socio-economic data.
Tool for scientists
The evidence collated is designed to serve as a tool for scientists and health authorities to help them develop public health recommendations. It will also support advice on the benefits of healthy living and eating a balanced diet.
The study suggested incorporating nutritional assessment and intervention as part of standard medical practice. Information on nutrient status throughout the course of a life may become “indispensable information for effective action”, it found.
Nutritional requirements
Furthermore, nutritional requirements should not only be identified from a body weight and energy balance perspective – the impact of body composition abnormalities and nutrient insufficiencies on clinical outcomes should also be considered, the report claimed.
Professor Manfred Eggersdorfer, senior vice president for nutrition science and advocacy at Groningen University, said: “Scientists have been focusing on single nutrient intake ... linking nutrition to general health outcomes offers a broader perspective.”
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