Geriatric Nutrition and Age-Related Physiological Changes

Abstract

Geriatric nutrition is an essential component of healthy ageing, focusing on the dietary management of physiological, metabolic, and psychosocial changes that occur with advancing age. The global increase in the elderly population has heightened the need for effective nutritional strategies to maintain health, functional independence, and quality of life. This review explores the major age-related changes affecting nutritional status, including sarcopenia, alterations in body composition, gastrointestinal dysfunction, reduced nutrient absorption, osteoporosis, sensory and oral health impairments, cardiovascular changes, declining renal function, and immunosenescence. The review further examines the influence of psychological and social factors, such as depression, loneliness, and social isolation, on food intake and nutritional wellbeing. Current evidence suggests that adequate intake of protein, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and antioxidant-rich foods, combined with regular physical activity, can help mitigate age-related decline and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Comprehensive nutritional assessment and individualized interventions are critical for promoting healthy ageing and improving overall health outcomes in older adults.

Introduction

The text explains geriatric nutrition, a specialized field focused on improving health and quality of life in older adults by preventing malnutrition, maintaining independence, and reducing age-related disease risk as global ageing increases.

It highlights that ageing is associated with major physiological and metabolic changes that strongly affect nutritional needs:

• Body composition changes (sarcopenia): Loss of muscle mass and strength, increased fat accumulation, reduced metabolic rate, higher dehydration risk, and need for nutrient-dense diets with adequate protein and hydration. Exercise combined with protein intake helps slow decline.
• Gastrointestinal changes: Reduced digestion efficiency and vitamin B12 absorption, constipation, and microbiome changes that affect immunity and metabolism.
• Bone and musculoskeletal decline: Increased risk of osteoporosis due to reduced bone density, especially after menopause, requiring calcium, vitamin D, protein, and weight-bearing exercise.
• Sensory and oral decline: Reduced taste, smell, vision, and chewing ability leading to lower food intake, poor diet quality, and higher risk of malnutrition.
• Metabolic and renal changes: Increased insulin resistance (higher diabetes risk), reduced kidney function affecting fluid balance and drug metabolism, and chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”).
• Cardiovascular changes: Higher risk of hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart disease; diet (e.g., DASH or Mediterranean patterns) plays a key protective role.
• Immune system decline (immunosenescence): Reduced immune response and increased inflammation, where nutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E, zinc, selenium, and omega-3s support immunity.
• Psychosocial factors: Loneliness, depression, poverty, and social isolation reduce food intake and worsen nutritional status, requiring multidisciplinary care.

References

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Copyright © 2026 Neerja Masih. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.