The efficacy of nutritional support and its role in the treatment of persons with sarcopenia

Abstract

The aim of the current descriptive review was to identify the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia in the elderly. Most of the publications included in this review show that protein and vitamin D intake, as well as a healthy and balanced diet, plays an important protective role against the development of sarcopenia. However, current scientific evidence is insufficient to draw sound conclusions. Although the role of nutrition in sarcopenia has been assessed in scientific publications over the past decade, most of the studies conducted are highly heterogeneous and had small sample sizes. Larger meta-analyses and randomized trials with strict inclusion criteria must better describe the role of nutrition in the development and treatment of sarcopenia. In conclusion, general recommendations on nutrition are given. A literature search was conducted in three electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, for the period from 2012 to December 1, 2022. Secondary sources included articles cited in articles extracted from the above sources. Inclusion criteria were crossover or cohort studies involving individuals ≥60 years of age. There were no restrictions on the language bias of the publication. Search strategy: key words used to describe the condition of the participants were: «old age», «infirmity», and «sarcopenia».