Novel Tool to Highlight Nutrient Shortfalls in Older Adults

Nutrient shortfalls occur in several sectors of the US population. Prevention of shortfalls has the potential to improve quality of life and save lives and healthcare dollars. Older adults are at particularly high risk because of increased requirements for several nutrients while energy requirement is reduced. This higher nutritional standard is further challenged by physical changes associated with aging (e.g. poorer dentition, reduced saliva production) or preference for easy-to-prepare foods. These insufficiencies put older adults at greater risk of falls, fractures, and disease outcomes. National monitoring data can help identify vulnerable subgroups that may require further intervention from healthcare practitioners. We propose to develop a tool to heighten the practitioner’s ‘index of suspicion’ (IOS) that a patient may be at risk of inadequate micronutrient intake. National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (2011-2012) were analyzed by age, sex, ethnicity and SES for shortfall nutrients, with distribution adjustment using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) method, to identify vulnerable subgroups. Data are presented as % of subgroup <EAR. Age and sex were the primary factors associated with inadequate intakes. Adults aged ≥71 y, the most rapidly growing subset of the US population, were most likely to have low intake of calcium, magnesium, vitamins D, B6 and B12. Women were at higher risk than men of low intake for all of these nutrients across the age range. Once developed and tested, an ‘IOS’ tool practitioners could identify vulnerable groups, thereby heightening awareness of the need to improve that individual’s nutritional status.