OBJECTIVES: Malnourishment is common in older adults, and nutritional supplementation is used to improve body weight and well-being. Clinical reports suggest, however, that patients routinely reject sip-feeds. The present study examined the following questions: whether sip-feeds are less preferred and less likely to be selected than other energy-dense foods in healthy elders; and whether eating alone further reduces intake relative to eating in a social setting. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy older adults (aged 60-79 years) attended the laboratory on three occasions. Subjects rated six different flavours of sip-feed and then rated the pleasantness of the taste of the favoured flavour against five other energy-dense familiar foods/drinks. Intake of these foods was measured when subjects ate alone or in a group of familiar others. RESULTS: Favourite flavour of sip-feed compared well with other more familiar foods and was selected as part of a snack. Snack intake increased by 60% when consumed in a group setting compared with eating alone. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that sip-feeds are rated as pleasant and selected by free-living elders. Rejection of sip-feeds in hospitalized elders may relate more to loss of appetite than to the taste preference for sip-feeds, and that eating alone rather than in groups of familiar others is likely to compound eating problems.
OBJECTIVES: Malnourishment is common in older adults, and nutritional supplementation is used to improve body weight and well-being. Clinical reports suggest, however, that patients routinely reject sip-feeds. The present study examined the following questions: whether sip-feeds are less preferred and less likely to be selected than other energy-dense foods in healthy elders; and whether eating alone further reduces intake relative to eating in a social setting. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy older adults (aged 60-79 years) attended the laboratory on three occasions. Subjects rated six different flavours of sip-feed and then rated the pleasantness of the taste of the favoured flavour against five other energy-dense familiar foods/drinks. Intake of these foods was measured when subjects ate alone or in a group of familiar others. RESULTS: Favourite flavour of sip-feed compared well with other more familiar foods and was selected as part of a snack. Snack intake increased by 60% when consumed in a group setting compared with eating alone. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that sip-feeds are rated as pleasant and selected by free-living elders. Rejection of sip-feeds in hospitalized elders may relate more to loss of appetite than to the taste preference for sip-feeds, and that eating alone rather than in groups of familiar others is likely to compound eating problems.
Authors: M Ishikawa; Y Takemi; T Yokoyama; K Kusama; Y Fukuda; T Nakaya; M Nozue; N Yoshiike; K Yoshiba; F Hayashi; N Murayama Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2017 Impact factor: 4.075
Authors: A J van Til; E Naumann; I J H M Cox-Claessens; S Kremer; E Boelsma; M A E de van der Schueren Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2015-05 Impact factor: 4.075
Authors: Amanda Björnwall; Ylva Mattsson Sydner; Afsaneh Koochek; Nicklas Neuman Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-27 Impact factor: 3.390