| [ Summary ] |
Frailty is a common finding among community-dwelling older adults. This condition is associated with a lower intake of total dietary protein, a lower morning intake of protein, a higher fat intake, eating alone, and oral health problems. In contrast, among patients undergoing dialysis, frailty is primarily related to poor dietary intake of energy and protein. Nutritional supplementation provided at the time of their dialysis visits can improve nutritional and inflammatory parameters in patients, as well as their physical function such as their usual walking speed. An elderly patient usually requires consumption of at least 1.0-1.2 g/kg ideal body weight of protein per day to prevent the progression of frailty. Thus, patients undergoing dialysis require adequate quantities (supply/sources) of dietary energy and protein to prevent frailty, combined with an adequate dose of dialysis and the administration of phosphate binders avoiding polypharmacy. |