# Empowering Pre-Frail Older Adults: Assessing the Effects of a Community Nutrition Education Intervention on Nutritional Intake and Sarcopenia Markers

## TL;DR

A community nutrition education program improved short-term dietary intake in older adults but did not sustain these benefits or impact sarcopenia markers six months later.

## Contribution

This study evaluates a non-supplemental nutrition education intervention's impact on dietary intake and sarcopenia markers in pre-frail older adults.

## Key findings

- Participants showed improved daily calorie, protein, and calcium intake immediately after the intervention.
- Six months post-intervention, protein and calcium intake declined significantly.
- Well-nourished participants had better sarcopenia markers like handgrip strength and physical performance.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Early intervention combining nutrition optimisation with exercise can potentially prevent frailty progression and reverse pre-frailty in older adults. Methods: This 4-month study examined the effectiveness of nutrition education (without oral nutrition supplement use) as part of a multi-domain intervention on the nutritional status and intake of pre-frail community-dwelling older adults and its relationship with sarcopenia markers. Results: Amongst 172 participants (≥55 years), 5.8% were malnourished, with no significant change in nutritional status throughout the study. Post-intervention, participants consumed significantly higher daily calories, protein, protein per body weight (BW), and calcium (p < 0.001); protein intake at lunch (p = 0.001) and dinner (p = 0.004) also increased. However, 6-month post-intervention daily protein (p = 0.025), protein per BW (p = 0.039), and calcium (p = 0.015) decreased significantly. Sarcopenia markers (handgrip strength (HGS), five-time chair stand test (5STS), and short physical performance battery score (SPPB)) showed no significant difference post-intervention. Well-nourished participants had better HGS (p = 0.005), 5STS (p = 0.026), and SPPB (p = 0.039). Practical nutrition education effectively improved nutritional intake, but the effect was not sustained 6-months post-intervention. Conclusions: Optimising nutritional status with a focus on improving protein intake, especially at breakfast, to meet minimal intake to stimulate muscle protein synthesis can help prevent sarcopenia and frailty. Future studies should examine factors driving sustainable improvement to prevent frailty progression in this population.