POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF NUTRITION IN THE AGEING POPULATION

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POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF NUTRITION IN THE
AGEING POPULATION

• Prof. Kaisa Poutanen
• University of Kuopio
• Food and Health Research Centre
• Brussels 4 November 2004

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THE AMOUNT OF OLDER PEOPLE IS INCREASING RAPIDLY
World
More developed regions
Europe
Children (0-14 years)
Older (over 60 years)
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INTRODUCTION

• The number of the aged increases rapidly also in
  Finland and in Kuopio
• ¼ of the population will be over 65 years in 2030
• Over 65 year old consume, on average, four times
  as much healthcare resource as younger people
  (OECD estimate).
• ? the costs of social and healthcare increases

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THE NUMBER OF THE ELDERLY (65-74 YEARS OLD) IN
KUOPIO TOTAL NUMBER OF INHABITANTS 88 000
10770 (10.8 )
Prediction in 2002
5162 (5.9 )
Kuopion väestöennuste 2003-2030
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THE NUMBER OF THE ELDERLY IN KUOPIO OVER 70
YEARS OLD
10730 (10.7 )
Prediction in 2000
6682 (7.6 )
Kuopion väestöennuste 2003-2030
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THE AGEING CHALLENGES

• How to maintain abilities with advancing age?
• How to live long well?
• How to reduce healthcare costs ?

Optimal, normal, or detrimental ageing ? What
can food do ?
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CONCERNS OF AGEING

• Cardiovascular health
• Gut health
• Blood sugar levels
• Weight loss
• Eye health
• The menopause
• Osteoporosis
• Cognitive health

Ref. New Nutrition Business, Feb. 2003, 23-28.
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THE ELDERLY ARE A HETEROGENIC GROUP

• Some of the elderly are malnourished, in a risk
  of malnutrition or obese, exercise little, have
  many diseases and a lot of medication, and have a
  decreased function ability
• Some elderly are active, energetic and healthy
• ? challenges for developing the nutrition for
  the elderly!

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CHALLENGES

• Ageing effects on gastrointestinal function
• Sensory perception (? food choice), food
  digestibility, gut function
• Smaller need of energy due to decreased physical
  activity and slower basic metabolism (2 / 10
  years)
• How to assure the uptake of adequate nutrients
  (such as D-vitamin)
• How to get enough, but not too much, energy?
• Interactions between medication, diseases and
  nutrition
• Dietary status and general capability are
  interrelated
• Social background, such as living alone
  influences eating habits

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FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF
THE ELDERLY

• Sight
• Taste
• Smell
• Teeth
• Memory
• Body composition
• Ability to move
• Etc.

• Depression
• Lonelyness

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis etc.

ENERGY INTAKE AND/ OR EXPENDITURE DECREASES ?
HIGHER DEMANDS FOR THE NUTRIENT CONTENT OF THE
DIET
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ORIGINAL U.S. FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID
Fats, oils sweets USE SPARINGLY
Milk, yoghurt cheese group
2-3 SERVINGS
Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nut
group 2-3 SERVINGS
Vegetable group 3-5 SERVINGS
Fruit group 2-4 SERVINGS
Bread, cereal, rice pasta group
6-11 SERVINGS
Ref. Russell et al. 1999. J. Nutr. 129 751-753.
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MODIFIED FOOD PYRAMID FOR 70 ADULTS
Calsium, vitamin D B12 SUPPLEMENTS
Fats, oils sweets USE SPARINGLY
Milk, yoghurt cheese group
3 SERVINGS
Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nut
group 2 SERVINGS
Fruit group 2 SERVINGS
Vegetable group 3 SERVINGS
Bread, cereal, rice pasta group
6 SERVINGS
F Fibre
F
F
F
F
Water 8 SERVINGS
Ref. Russell et al. 1999. J. Nutr. 129 751-753.
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IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THE NUTRITION OF ELDERLY

• Extra attention should be paid on
• The nutrient density of the diet
• Foods or food products rich in fiber
• Sufficient amount of liquids, especially water
• Sufficient vitamin D and folate intake
• The less energy one gets, the more important the
  food choices are

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NUTRITION SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY
The composition and the characteristics of the
food
Sensory quality
Health effects
Package techniques
Information technology

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KUOPIO CENTRE FOR GERIATRIC NUTRITION AND DRUG
RESEARCH
Pharmaceutical faculty
Food and Health Research Centre Dept of Clinical
Nutrition
KUOPIO CENTRE FOR GERIATRIC NUTRITION AND DRUG
RESEARCH
Companies City Research partners
Dept of Public Health and General Practice
DEVELOPS TESTS STUDIES
PRODUCES




HELATH TECHNOLOGY
FOOD
HEALTH CARE AND SERVICES
DRUGS
WELL-BEING OF ELDERLY
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KUOPIO CENTRE FOR GERIATRIC NUTRITION AND DRUG
RESEARCH

• Participating units in the University of Kuopio
• Department of Clinical Nutrition
• Food and Health Research Centre
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Department of Public Health and General Practice
• The centre will start as a 2-year networking
  project in close collaboration with the city of
  Kuopio

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POSSIBILITIES

• The elderly are an increasing group of consumers
  interested in their well-being
• ? Developing nutrition-related products and
  services spesificly to this group
• Improving the nutritional status and the
  functionality of the elderly through intensified
  nutrition / nutritional guidance
• ? Decreased health care costs as a long-term
  goal
• Synergism in medication and nutrition
• ? Holistic treatment

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OBJECTIVES OF THE STARTING RESEARCH CENTRE
ELDERLY
TREATMENT SERVICES
FOOD
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY
MEDICATION DISEASES

• GOALS
• Good old age
• Imroved practices
• ? Innovations in nutrition, medication and
  services
• ? Piloting platform

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WHAT COULD WE ACHIEVE?

• Individual
• Tools to increase well-being and reduce the risk
  of diseases

• Society
• Cost-effective ways of promoting public health

• Industries
• New, even global business opportunities