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Are elderly hospitalized patients getting enough protein?
Cathy Gaillard1, Emmanuel Alix, Yves Boirie
1Department of Metabolic Diseases and Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Angers, Angers, France.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|June 17, 2008
Summary
Elderly hospitalized patients require higher protein intake (1.06 g/kg/day) than healthy individuals to maintain nitrogen balance. Determining a safe protein intake for all patients proved challenging.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Nutritional Science
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Elderly hospitalized patients often face nutritional challenges.
- Protein requirements in this population are not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the protein requirements for elderly hospitalized patients.
- To assess nitrogen balance in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study evaluating nitrogen balance.
- Involved 36 elderly patients (65-99 years) in geriatric or rehabilitation units.
- Measured energy and protein intake over 3 days after clinical stabilization.
Main Results:
- Mean protein intake was 0.99 g/kg/day, with neutral nitrogen balance observed (0.37 g/day).
- Energy and protein intake positively correlated with nitrogen balance.
- Linear regression indicated a minimum protein requirement of 1.06 g/kg/day for adequate energy intake.
Conclusions:
- The mean protein intake for neutral nitrogen balance in elderly hospitalized patients is 1.06 g/kg/day, exceeding current recommendations for healthy elderly.
- Establishing a universally safe protein intake for this group is difficult.
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