Malnutrition Awareness Week 2024: Tackling Undernutrition in Older Adults
Malnutrition Awareness Week
This Malnutrition Awareness Week (MAW), running from 11th to 15th November, focuses on the critical issue of disease-related malnutrition (DRM). Organised by HDHL stakeholder advisory board member the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), this global initiative highlights DRM’s severe impact on patient health and healthcare systems, aiming to raise awareness, ensure early detection and support intervention, and inspire transformative action against DRM.
HDHL’s Role in Tackling Malnutrition: The PREVNUT Projects
In alignment with MAW’s goals, HDHL has invested in targeted research projects addressing undernutrition among older adults. In 2015, the Manuel project was granted which was a knowledge hub call focusing on malnutrition in the elderly. They developed a toolbox for clinical practice and with policy recommendations at the end of the project, aiming to harmonise research, screening methods, defining risk factors, and effective treatment. Additionally, in 2020, HDHL launched the PREVNUT call, which funded six transnational projects that have reached their final stages. Researchers from these projects recently convened in Dijon to share their valuable insights and findings. Here’s a closer look at the projects funded by HDHL:
- Ambrosia
- The Ambrosia project created the “Ambrosia Bar,” a special chocolate snack designed to improve gut health by supporting the microbiota-inflammation-brain connection. The bar’s ingredients—probiotics, protein, inulin, and coenzyme Q10—were carefully balanced to provide health benefits, good taste, and a long shelf-life. Early results suggest this bar could help improve gut health in older adults, making it a promising nutritional option.
- APPETITE
- APPETITE developed plant-based protein fiber products to combat poor appetite and reduce the risk of undernutrition. By offering nutritious plant protein options in comparison to animal protein in combination with a physical activity program, the project addresses both dietary needs and physical activity to support a healthier aging process.
- Choko-agE
- This project created a vitamin E-rich chocolate specifically formulated for older adults at risk of protein-energy malnutrition. Designed to counteract muscle loss, the antioxidant properties of vitamin E showed potential benefits for muscle mass retention, particularly in those facing the challenges of aging and cognitive decline.
- EAT4Age
- EAT4Age developed a range of protein-enriched foods in line with the cultural habits like cereals, yogurt, cheese, and even texture-modified beef to cater to the nutritional needs of aging adults. By focusing on taste and digestibility, the project aimed to ensure these foods are not only nutritious but were also accepted by older adults, thus encouraging better dietary habits and combating undernutrition.
- FORTIPHY
- FORTIPHY created high-protein, high-calorie ‘Do-it-Yourself’ recipes that can be made at home to support older adults with diminished appetites. In addition to recipe development, the project offered the course “Aging Well” on nutrition and exercise for older adults, empowering them to make nutritious choices and stay active.
- PROMED-COG
- Recognising the link between nutrition and cognitive health, PROMED-COG promoted a protein-enriched Mediterranean diet aimed at preventing dementia-related undernutrition. Their findings suggest that maintaining good nutritional status can play a crucial role in reducing dementia risk.
These projects contribute to advancing nutritional science and improving quality of life for older adults. By fostering innovations like the Ambrosia Bar, protein-enriched recipes, and nutrient-dense foods, HDHL is contributing to long-term, practical solutions that can be adopted by citizens, caregivers, and healthcare providers to combat undernutrition. As we mark Malnutrition Awareness Week, HDHL encourages healthcare institutions, policymakers, and the public to prioritise nutrition as a fundamental component of healthy aging.