Assessment and management of nutrition in older people and its importance to health

Figures & data

Figure 1 A depiction of the “anorexia of aging”.

Abbreviation: GI, gastrointestinal.

Table 1 Clinical signs and nutritional deficiencies

System	Sign or symptom	Nutrient deficiency
Skin	Dry scaly skin	Zinc/essential fatty acids
	Follicular hyperkeratosis	Vitamin A, C
	Petechiae	Vitamin C, K
	Photosensitive dermatitis	Niacin
	Poor wound healing	Zinc, vitamin C
	Scrotal dermatitis	Riboflavin
Hair	Thin/depigmented	Protein
	Easy pluckability	Protein, zinc
Nail	Transverse depigmentation	Albumin
	Spooned	Iron
Eyes	Night blindness	Vitamin A, zinc
	Conjunctival inflammation	Riboflavin
	Keratomalacia	Vitamin A
Mouth	Bleeding gums	Vitamin C, riboflavin
	Glositis	Niacin, piridoxin, riboflavin
	Atrophic papillae	Iron
	Hypogeusia	Zinc, vitamin A
Neck	Thyroid enlargement	Iodine
	Parotid enlargement	Protein
Abdomen	Diarrhea	Niacin, folate, vitamin B12
	Hepatomegaly	Protein
Extremities	Bone tenderness	Vitamin D
	Joint pain	Vitamin C
	Muscle tenderness	Thiamine
	Muscle wasting	Protein, selenium vitamin D
	Edema	Protein
Neurological	Ataxia	Vitamin B12
	Tetany	Calcium, magnesium
	Parasthesia	Thiamine, vitamin B12
	Ataxia	Vitamin B12
	Dementia	Vitamin B12, niacin
	Hyporeflexia	Thiamine

Table 2 Drugs that may cause anorexia in older people

System	Drug
Cardiovascular	Amiodorone, frusemide, digoxin, spironolcatone
Neurological	Levodopa, fluoxetine, lithium
Gastrointestinal	H2 antagoinsts, PPI
Antibiotics	metronidazole, griseofluvin
Chemotherapies	Any
Musculoskeletal	colchicines, NSAIDs, penicillamine, methotrexate

Abbreviations: NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PPI, proton pump inhibitors.