Low Nutrient and Vitamin Intake as a Result of Low Calorie Intake in the Elderly
This 17-page graduate literature review and research oral proposal examines some current research about the link between low calorie intake and low vitamin and mineral intake in elderly populations. This paper also proposes a project which addresses a gap in the literature. The literature review considers the basic debate on the issue, which concerns the link between a low calorie diet and low vitamin and mineral intake among elderly populations. Some researchers suggest that low calorie diets lead to low vitamin and mineral intake among the elderly. They point to cases of extreme poverty, especially in the third world, where an individual may not consume enough food to have adequate levels of nutrients and minerals. In such situations, the elderly are very vulnerable, because limited food resources often go to the young and those who labour. Further, many researchers point to levels of poverty, issues of mobility, and medications, all of which tend to make the elderly more susceptible to adopting low calorie diets which affect their vitamin and mineral intakes. Other researchers point to elderly persons who consume few calories but still have adequate mineral and vitamin intakes, suggesting that calories alone do not determine health. This paper points out that this topic has been considered by many disciplines, suggesting it is an important concept. This paper offers a brief oral research proposal which outlines a project meant to survey and examine elderly individuals from two groups - the elderly in homes or other institutions, the elderly living in families or with caretakers, and those elderly who live alone - and determine the ways that environment and knowledge affect the low caloric and low nutrient intake of these groups. This research project, the proposal notes, is meant to uncover the factors which affect diets and thus nutrient and vitamin intake among the elderly. Finally, this paper presents an outline to be used in a powerpoint presentation, and fact sheets to be used in the oral research presentation.
