A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Health & Aging revealed that food supplement is beneficial for older adults. The study was conducted by a Nutrition Research Specialist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and showed that dietary supplementation is a very effective way to support an aging population, especially those who are already experiencing age-related diseases.
According to the researchers, food supplements are an excellent way to boost daily energy intake, mainly when dietary supplementation is found in various forms. These include dairy products, juices, and shakes mixed with fruits or vegetables, hot cereals, dark chocolate bars, breakfast bars, and even cookies.
It was also found out that foods that come from a regular diet, such as vegetables and fruits, have been significantly decreased. In addition, the researchers said that this is due to changes in the lifestyle of elders who are experiencing age-related diseases.
Older adults experience a reduction in food intake because most foods they eat do not provide enough nutrients they require for optimum health. With the number of older adults increasing worldwide, they must maintain a balanced diet and get their daily energy intake by consuming foods that provide them with the vitamins and minerals they need for good health.
According to some experts, this new evidence shows how food supplementation can boost dietary intake and improve older adults’ overall quality of life. Furthermore, since energy intake is much lower compared to younger adults, it is an essential factor that must be considered when managing health conditions among the elderly population.
Vitamins and minerals can be taken by older adults in supplements, which provide them with the nutrients they need for better health without increasing their energy intake. Dietary supplementation is also found to positively impact neurodegenerative diseases because it helps improve cognitive function, mental health, fatigue levels, metabolic function, immune system, cardiovascular function and decreases the effects of aging.
The Department of Health and Human Services Food and Nutrition Board recommends that older adults take dietary supplements when they cannot get the required nutrients through their regular diet. For many years, nutritional supplements were deemed unsafe for consumption because they cause adverse side effects in the body. However, with the newer forms of supplementation available and the results of recent studies, scientists and medical experts are now encouraging older adults to take food supplements because they can provide numerous health benefits.
