From St. Louis U: Sarcopenia is a major cause of undernutrition in older adults

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22399563

Fam Pract. 2012 Apr;29 Suppl 1:i89-i93.

Undernutrition in older adults.

Morley JE.

Source

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO.

Abstract

Undernutrition in older persons usually presents as weight loss and is predominantly due to protein energy wasting. The presentation of undernutrition is often subtle in older persons and there is a need to utilize screening tools and increasing physician awareness. There are multiple treatable causes of undernutrition in older persons. The major causes are anorexia, cachexia, sarcopenia, dehydration, malabsorption and hypermetabolism. This article also provides an overview of the use of nutritional supplements and an approach to managing protein energy wasting.