The role of nutrition in active and healthy ageing : for prevention and treatment of age-related diseases: evidence so far

Europe is facing an ageing population. Life expectancy is at its highest and many European populations are experiencing major demographic changes and transition towards a much older population structure. However, despite living longer, many people suffer ill-health or disability in the last 15 to 20 years of life. To encourage active and healthy ageing and to help increase healthy life expectancy, the European Commission has launched the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (the Partnership), which aims to add an average of two healthy life years in Europe by 2020. This report aims to support the Partnership and to review the contribution of diet and nutrition in increasing healthy life years and promoting active and healthy ageing (AHA). The report gives a description of the main determinants of AHA including economic, social and behavioural factors and how they may relate to diet. It focusses on the issue of undernutrition in older people-both a cause and consequence of functional decline. Given the importance of undernutrition and that micronutrient deficiency is a common problem in older adults, this report summarises the evidence regarding micronutrient supplementations in the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases and conditions. At this stage, the current evidence seems insufficient to support the use of vitamin and mineral supplementation to prevent or treat specific cognitive or functional impairments in older people, although it does not imply that supplements are not effective. As it stands, another approach to ensure proper nutrition in older people is to maximise their intake of essential vitamins and minerals from natural food sources. Indeed, evidence so far on the Mediterranean Diet supports this whole diet approach to promote health, increase longevity and reduce the risks of various age-related diseases in observational studies. A number of research gaps are also highlighted in this report. Above all, there is a need to provide better guidance on diet and nutrition for older people and a set of age-specific, up-to-date dietary recommendations is essential to achieve this.