Nutrition and Aging - Essay Example

A Review of Patient with Low Protein, Does Giving Them Protein Supplement Drink That They Do Not Like Compare to Giving Them Protein Shake/Drink of Their Choice Increase Their Protein In Three Months Period Name: Professor: Institution: Course: Date: Literature review Nutrition is important in determining the health status of a person who is over 65 years of age. The malnutrition problem, however, is mostly under-diagnosed. Careful nutrition assessment is necessary for both successful diagnosis and development of comprehensive plans for malnutrition in any population (Jennie Wells, 2006). The first reported incidence of high malnutrition in the setting of a hospital was in the year 1974 publication that was known as ‘the Skeleton in the Hospital Closet’. Since then, malnutrition has been closely related to the length of stay in hospital, clinical deterioration, elevated use of hospital resources and too (Banh, 2006)many complications. Malnutrition has deleterious effects and thus early identification and management reduces its effects, improves outcomes and decreases costs. The biggest problem, however, is the definition of malnutrition case. Is it reduced calorie intake, protein, or both? (Banh, L., 2006) Low protein deficiency sometimes leads to dangerous complications. In the absence of some essential proteins, in the body, a patient may develop what is known as a hyper-coagulate state. During this condition, there is no balance between the clotting and non clotting factors in the blood leading to excessive and unnecessary blood clots which are dangerous. The main cause has been identified to be a lack of protein C and protein S. 1 in every 300 people is said to have a defective gene of protein C deficiency while that of protein S occurs in about 1 in every 20,000 people (Kate & Meer, 2008) Treatment and management of these patients with the protein deficiency differs in the extent of anticoagulation. The patient is usually at the disposal of the doctor to determine what therapy and supplementations are good. A treatment known as warfranin is taken for a period of 2 years or even for a lifetime, if the patient has thrombophilic defects while normally 3 to 6 months are enough for patients without the defect. Such patients, therefore, must take dietary guides from doctors and cannot have much choice of their own in choosing the protein supplements and shakes (Kate & Meer, 2008). The other set of patients who need protein supplementation are those that are under dialysis. Most of these patients develop what is referred to as Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM). Poor diet as a result of loss of appetite, catablosism of protein as a result of dialysis, inflammation amongst other factors might be the causes of the deficiency. PEM is a leading cause of problems such as mortality and morbidity in these patients, who are aged and growth retardation to those who are young (Pifer & McCollough, 2002). A 3-month supplementation program delivered to each patient is essential from a qualified supplement program. After the three months, these patients are required to have their weight monitored, and their albumin level tracked (Bossola, Muscaritoli & Tazza, 2005) The patient’s choice of protein supplementation is also important in the dialysis patients. This is so because the muscles need to repair and rebuild muscles, provide required energy, make antibodies, and some enzymes and hormones. The patient should also improve their protein supplementation in order to have healthy bones, hair and skin. High biological value proteins can be accessed by the patient from beef, pork, lamb, poultry, sea food, dairy, eggs and soy while low biological value protein can be found in nuts, dry beans and some grains like rice, buckwheat and quinoa (lifeoptions, 2007). The need for supplements Supplements are usually taken for various reasons relating to the healthcare of the people who take them. The general desire is that the supplements will enhance vitality, reduce ageing, life lengthening, reduce the risks of diseases such as cancer and manage ails like arthritis. There is no clear cut answer whether supplements are goof as they range from the products that are available and individual’s circumstances that will govern whether they will benefit from the supplement (Choices, 2011) Some supplement are categorized as medicines because they have an effect according to their method of use. Different products with the same main or active ingredient may have different categories of classification, some being grouped as foods and others as medicines (Choices, 2011). Different Supplementation and their effect There is a broad range of products that are available some with sweet while others with savory taste. Other supplements have a neutral taste and, therefore, best taken with other foods. Patients with different conditions should consider supplements that suit them best. For example, a diabetes patient cannot take the same supplements as a patient with one who has a protein deficiency related problem (Christie, 2012). The supplements can be categorized into two broad categories, those that a patient buys according to his or her choice and those that are on prescription and are recommended by a doctor. The non prescription supplements can be bought in drug stores and supermarkets. They are mainly packed in powdered form and should be reconstituted as per the given directions. Build up original is one of the powdered supplements, and it is unflavored while build up shake comes in the different flavors of vanilla, banana, strawberry, chocolate or lemon and lime. Build up soups exists for chicken, potato and leek, and vegetable flavors. Others include the com-plan and com-plan savory (Christie, 2012). A patient can get prescription supplements from the Hospital doctor or dietician. The proper advice is given together with supplements as per the needs of the patient. Most of these supplements are not appropriate for strict vegetarians. High energy content supplements are sweet and are milk based drinks that come in a wide variety of flavors. Other supplements contain fiber while some have the likeness of juices (Christie, 2012). Supplements that contain energy and protein should be used as they are prescribed since they contain concentrates of these substances. The effects can be detrimental, and care should be taken in order not to violate these guidelines. Nourishing puddings also exist that can be of help to patients who have difficulties swallowing (Christie, 2012). Supplementations to add nutritional value can cause anabolic and hormonal influence to both endurance as well as resistance. Cristol and epinephrine hormones have been found to increase due to the use of these supplementations. Both insulin and the growth hormone increase especially if the combination includes exercise. Muscles and protein breakdown reduce due to these supplements due to use of supplements. Muscles damage is also reported being reduced as the supplements also reduce the breakdown (Baty et. al., 2007). Experiments to prove the difference between those who used supplements and those who did not use the supplements during an exercise. The resultant effect was that those who had taken the supplements reported having a significant difference than those who did not. The supplement under study was known as CHO-PRO that was compared to a placebo. In all formats, the total exercise performed was measured according to the amount of weight lifted scaled per kg (Baty et. al., 2007) More clinical trials show that soy protein can control the production of hormones in the body. The same study also gives the results that the supplements can have an effect on inflammation, an effect that may be favorable to patients of various chronic illnesses. Steatosis, progressed by oxidative stress, can be minimized by the use of the supplementation as they promote the production of antioxidants. Patients with Hepatitis C are meant to benefit greatly from the protein supplements. Factors that increase the mortality rate of these patients include a high BMI, resistance to insulin and high cholesterol. Soy supplementation decreases the factors that may cause mortality in these patients. The supplementation, therefore, should be regarded as an important choice of nutritional management for hepatitis C chronic patients (Oliveira Lucivilda, 2012). A major protein deficiency known as protein S deficiency has been studied with important function in the regulation of the generation of thrombin. PubMed conducted several researches on individuals with Protein S deficiency. The treatment of this deficiency is achieved in 3 – 6 months with warfranin supplementation as well as administration of heparin for 5 consecutive days (Ten Kate, 2008). References Banh, L. (2006). Serum Proteins as makers of Nutrition: What are we treating? Nutrition Issues in Gastroenterology , 46-50. Choices. (2011, June). A behind the Headlines Report. Supplements, Who needs them? Jennie Wells, A. D. (2006). Nutrition and Aging: Assessment and treatment of compromised nutritional status in frail erderly patients. Clinical Interventions in Aging , 2-3. Oliveira Lucivilda, R. B. (2012). Effects of Soy Supplementation in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: A randomized Clinical Trial. World Journal of Gastroenterology , 8. Ten Kate, V. D. (2008). Protein S deficiency: A clinical perspective. Haemophilia , 4. Read More