Page 31 - Petelin, Ana, and Šarabon, Nejc. 2018. Eds. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Znanstvena monografija / Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 31
Role of physical activity and nutrition
in prevention of frailty
Branko Gabrovec
National institute of Public Health, Trubarjeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Introduction: As the process which leads to frailty and disability can
be slowed down or even completely reversed, it can be appropriate for
early interventions. Early interventions can be found in multiple fields,
specially in physical activity and nutrition.
Methods: Systematic literature review and good practices review was
conducted to obtain the results on two tasks of the Work package 6 – the
Management of Frailty at Individual Level JA ADVANTAGE: Nutrition,
Physical activity.
Results: Malnutrition or being at risk for malnutrition increases the
risk of frailty and its consequences. With regard to the importance to
recognize malnutrition and risk of malnutrition, the Mini Nutritional
Assessment is a well validated tool to be used for screening and
assessment. Physical activity and exercise in frail elderly are effective and
relatively safe and may reverse frailty. Both, health nutrition and physical
activity give best results when they are combined.
Discussion and conclusion: Frail patients who are at elevated risk for falls
and fracture need Vitamin D supplementation. The Mediterranean diet
is associated with lower risk of frailty. Assuring a protein intake of at
least 1-1.2 g per kilogram of body weight per day is beneficial. Exercise
interventions in frail elderly persons can increase strength and power,
have potential to maintain or even slightly increase fat-free mass, and are
effective in improving aerobic capacity and balance. Consequently, fall
incidence is reduced and quality of life improved.
Key words: frailty, nutrition, physical activity
Frailty is a progressive age-related decline in physiological systems that re-
sults in decreased reserves of intrinsic capacity, which confers extreme
vulnerability to stressors and increases the risk of a range of adverse health
doi: https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7055-18-4.31-41
in prevention of frailty
Branko Gabrovec
National institute of Public Health, Trubarjeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Introduction: As the process which leads to frailty and disability can
be slowed down or even completely reversed, it can be appropriate for
early interventions. Early interventions can be found in multiple fields,
specially in physical activity and nutrition.
Methods: Systematic literature review and good practices review was
conducted to obtain the results on two tasks of the Work package 6 – the
Management of Frailty at Individual Level JA ADVANTAGE: Nutrition,
Physical activity.
Results: Malnutrition or being at risk for malnutrition increases the
risk of frailty and its consequences. With regard to the importance to
recognize malnutrition and risk of malnutrition, the Mini Nutritional
Assessment is a well validated tool to be used for screening and
assessment. Physical activity and exercise in frail elderly are effective and
relatively safe and may reverse frailty. Both, health nutrition and physical
activity give best results when they are combined.
Discussion and conclusion: Frail patients who are at elevated risk for falls
and fracture need Vitamin D supplementation. The Mediterranean diet
is associated with lower risk of frailty. Assuring a protein intake of at
least 1-1.2 g per kilogram of body weight per day is beneficial. Exercise
interventions in frail elderly persons can increase strength and power,
have potential to maintain or even slightly increase fat-free mass, and are
effective in improving aerobic capacity and balance. Consequently, fall
incidence is reduced and quality of life improved.
Key words: frailty, nutrition, physical activity
Frailty is a progressive age-related decline in physiological systems that re-
sults in decreased reserves of intrinsic capacity, which confers extreme
vulnerability to stressors and increases the risk of a range of adverse health
doi: https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7055-18-4.31-41
