Narrative review of nutrition for malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty in older adults
This narrative review of older adults, especially care home residents, reports that food fortification raises energy and protein intake and that oral nutritional supplements, when food alone is insufficient, were linked to higher energy intake and BMI and better functional outcomes. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review says malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty often coexist in older adults, especially care home residents, and are distinct conditions needing targeted assessment. [1]
Food fortification effectively increases energy and protein intake, according to the review. [1]
When intake is insufficient, oral nutritional supplements were shown to increase energy intake and BMI, improve functional outcomes, reduce hospitalisation and be cost effective. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Narrative literature review (abstract).
- Population / context
- Community-dwelling older adults and care home populations.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 27, 2026
Malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty in older adults
The review describes malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty as conditions that often occur together in older adults, particularly among care home residents. It says they share mechanisms and overlapping features such as unintended weight loss and age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, but are distinct conditions needing targeted assessment and intervention. The authors note these conditions contribute to falls, hospitalisation and reduced quality of life, and that gaps remain in understanding optimal nutritional strategies and their implementation in care homes.
Supporting source [1]
Food fortification and oral supplements in the reviewed evidence
The review reports that food fortification effectively increases energy and protein intake. When intake is insufficient, oral nutritional supplements were shown to significantly increase energy intake and BMI, improve functional outcomes, reduce hospitalisation rates and be cost effective. Adherence remains challenging and can be affected by personal, contextual or product-related barriers. The authors suggest such strategies may help achieve optimal outcomes, particularly when combined with physical activity or exercise in a multimodal, individualised, patient-centred approach.
Supporting source [1]
Scope of this narrative review and research gaps
This is a narrative literature review, not a new trial, and the abstract does not report study numbers, follow-up or effect sizes. The authors state that further research is needed to establish standardised protocols for implementing combined nutritional and multimodal strategies in diverse care environments. The abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. As a narrative review, it reports no primary study numbers, follow-up or effect sizes in the abstract.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Khalaf H, Hopwood C, Straker C, Donald K, Lopes N, Slee A. · europepmc.org · September 27, 2026