Aging Physiology & Nutritional Needs Flashcards

Many experts (e.g., PROT-AGE) recommend what daily protein intake for healthy older adults?

Answer: 1.0–1.2 g/kg

PROT-AGE and ESPEN recommend 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day to maintain muscle in healthy older adults.

Anabolic resistance in aging muscle means that:

Answer: A larger protein dose per meal is needed to maximally stimulate muscle synthesis

Older muscle needs about 25–30 g of high-quality protein (with ~2.5–3 g leucine) per meal to stimulate synthesis maximally.

Which change in renal function is typical with aging?

Answer: Gradual decline in glomerular filtration rate

GFR typically declines with age, affecting drug clearance and electrolyte handling.

Reduced vitamin D synthesis in aging skin is primarily due to decreased:

Answer: 7-dehydrocholesterol concentration

Aging skin contains less 7-dehydrocholesterol, the precursor converted to vitamin D3 by UVB light.

The Adequate Intake for fiber for women over 50 is:

Answer: 21 g/day

The AI is 21 g/day for women and 30 g/day for men over 50, based on 14 g/1,000 kcal.

Sarcopenic obesity is best described as:

Answer: Reduced muscle mass and function combined with excess body fat

Sarcopenic obesity combines low muscle mass/function with high adiposity and may be hidden by a normal or high BMI.

Which body composition change commonly occurs with aging even when body weight is stable?

Answer: Shift of fat toward the visceral and intramuscular compartments

Fat redistributes centrally and into muscle with aging, raising metabolic risk.