CNS CNS Nutrition Across the Lifespan 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In older adults (>70 years), the RDA for protein increases compared to younger adults. What is the currently recommended daily protein intake for healthy older adults to preserve muscle mass?
- 1.0–1.2 g/kg body weight/day (Correct answer)
- 0.8 g/kg body weight/day
- 1.6 g/kg body weight/day
- 0.6 g/kg body weight/day
Correct answer: 1.0–1.2 g/kg body weight/day
Evidence supports 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day for older adults to counteract sarcopenia, with the standard DRI of 0.8 g/kg/day considered insufficient to maintain lean mass in aging.
Question 2: Which condition caused by age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function significantly increases fall and fracture risk in older adults?
- Sarcopenia (Correct answer)
- Osteopenia
- Cachexia
- Dynapenia
Correct answer: Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia (from Greek 'poverty of flesh') is characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, increasing risk of falls, fractures, and functional decline.
Question 3: The Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) DETERMINE checklist is used to identify nutritional risk in which population?
- Older adults / elderly (Correct answer)
- Pregnant women
- Pediatric patients
- Athletes
Correct answer: Older adults / elderly
The DETERMINE checklist (Disease, Eating poorly, Tooth loss, Economic hardship, Reduced social contact, Multiple medications, Involuntary weight loss, Needs assistance, Elder years) screens older adults for malnutrition risk.
Question 4: Breastfed infants in the United States are routinely supplemented with 400 IU/day of which vitamin because breast milk provides insufficient amounts?
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin A
Correct answer: Vitamin D
Human breast milk contains only 12–60 IU/L of vitamin D, far below infant needs; the AAP recommends 400 IU/day supplementation beginning within the first few days of life.
Question 5: What is the primary cause of the reduced vitamin B12 absorption commonly seen in older adults, often requiring supplementation with crystalline B12?
- Atrophic gastritis reducing intrinsic factor and gastric acid (Correct answer)
- Decreased dietary intake
- Increased renal excretion
- Impaired small intestinal absorption
Correct answer: Atrophic gastritis reducing intrinsic factor and gastric acid
Atrophic gastritis, prevalent in 10–30% of older adults, reduces gastric acid and intrinsic factor secretion, impairing protein-bound B12 digestion but sparing absorption of crystalline (free) B12.
Question 6: During the second trimester of pregnancy, the recommended additional energy intake above pre-pregnancy needs is approximately how many kcal/day?
- 340 kcal/day (Correct answer)
- 500 kcal/day
- 150 kcal/day
- 450 kcal/day
Correct answer: 340 kcal/day
The IOM recommends approximately 340 extra kcal/day in the second trimester and 452 kcal/day in the third trimester above pre-pregnancy energy needs.
CNS CNS Nutrition Across the Lifespan 2
In older adults (>70 years), the RDA for protein increases compared to younger adults.
What is the currently recommended daily protein intake for healthy older adults to preserve muscle mass?