Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.2
4.8
Journals
Nutrients
Special Issues
Geriatric Malnutrition and Frailty
nutrients-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Nutrients Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Geriatric Malnutrition and Frailty

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Geriatric Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 6003

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Marcello Maggio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Geratric Clinic Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Interests: endocrinology of aging; assessment and management of malnutrition; body composition; dysphagia; frailty
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Malnutrition in older adults has been recognised as a challenging health concern associated with not only increased mortality and morbidity, but also with physical decline. Frailty is a common and important geriatric syndrome that is characterized by age-associated declines in physiologic reserve and function across multiorgan systems, leading to increased vulnerability and adverse health outcomes. Malnutrition (both undernutrition and obesity) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of frailty, and thus nutritional interventions may offer a means of managing and preventing malnutrition, malnutrition-related diseases, frailty and sarcopenia.

This Special Issue aims to collect papers related to the evaluation of interventions regarding the prevention or treatment of malnutrition and frailty in older adults. We welcome the submission of clinical studies, epidemiological studies, and current reviews (scoping reviews, systematic reviews, and well-written narrative reviews).

Prof. Dr. Marcello Maggio
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • malnutrition
  • frailty
  • sarcopenia
  • older adults
  • nutritional intervention
  • diet

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 252 KiB  
Article
Effects of Malnutrition on the Incidence and Worsening of Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Pain
by Isabel Rodríguez-Sánchez, José Antonio Carnicero-Carreño, Alejandro Álvarez-Bustos, Francisco José García-García, Leocadio Rodríguez-Mañas and Hélio José Coelho-Júnior
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1400; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091400 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 106
Abstract
Background: Malnutrition may increase the risk of frailty in individuals with musculoskeletal pain. However, this scenario has not been explored in detail. As such, the present study was conducted to examine the effects of malnutrition on the risk of incident and worsening frailty [...] Read more.
Background: Malnutrition may increase the risk of frailty in individuals with musculoskeletal pain. However, this scenario has not been explored in detail. As such, the present study was conducted to examine the effects of malnutrition on the risk of incident and worsening frailty in community-dwelling older adults with musculoskeletal pain. Methods: Data from 895 community-dwelling older adults participating in the Toledo Study of Healthy Ageing who reported experiencing musculoskeletal pain during the month preceding data collection (mean age: 74.9 ± 5.6 years) were analyzed. Pain characteristics (i.e., intensity, locations, and treatment) were assessed based on self-reported information regarding the last month. Malnutrition was operationalized according to the GLIM criteria. Frailty status was assessed at baseline and at follow-up (~2.99 years), according to the Frailty Phenotype paradigm, operationalized through the Frailty Trait Scale 5. Associations between the variables were tested using logistic regression analyses adjusted for many covariates established a priori. Results: Malnutrition increased the risk of frailty (odds ratio [OR] = 4.41) and worsening of frailty status (OR = 6.25) in the participants who used ≥2 groups of painkillers in comparison to their non-undernourished peers. Conclusions: The findings of the present study indicate that malnutrition increases the risk of both developing and worsening frailty in older adults with musculoskeletal disorders. In particular, an increased risk of incident frailty and worsening frailty status was found in undernourished individuals using ≥2 analgesic drugs. Our results suggest that nutritional assessment should be included in the evaluation of old people living with musculoskeletal pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geriatric Malnutrition and Frailty)
17 pages, 865 KiB  
Article
Frailty and Energy Intake Deficiency Reduce the Efficiency of Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Retrospective Cohort Study
by Yusuke Tamamura, Chihiro Hachiuma, Michiko Matsuura, Sumiko Shiba and Toshio Nishikimi
Nutrients 2025, 17(8), 1334; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17081334 - 12 Apr 2025
Viewed by 231
Abstract
Background/Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between rehabilitation effectiveness (RE) and pre-admission Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) scores and energy intake. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 735 patients (81 ± 10 years; male: 27.5%) with musculoskeletal disorders discharged from convalescent rehabilitation [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between rehabilitation effectiveness (RE) and pre-admission Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) scores and energy intake. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 735 patients (81 ± 10 years; male: 27.5%) with musculoskeletal disorders discharged from convalescent rehabilitation wards between April 2018 and April 2024. The patients were classified into four groups based on their CFS scores (non-frail, CFS 1–3; frail, CFS ≥ 4) and rate of energy intake (energy-sufficient vs. energy-deficient). Group comparisons of RE were conducted, and the relationships between the CFS score, energy intake, and RE were analyzed. Results: The RE was significantly lower in the frail/energy-deficient group (53.6 [41.9–78.1]) than in the non-frail/energy-sufficient (78.5 [61.8–90.7]), non-frail/energy-deficient (70.6 [53.4–87.4]), and frail/energy-sufficient (59.9 [41.9–78.1]) groups. Additionally, the frail/energy-sufficient group had significantly lower RE scores than the non-frail/energy-sufficient and non-frail/energy-deficient groups. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age, male sex, CFS score, energy intake, handgrip strength, Functional Oral Intake Scale score, Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form score, B-type natriuretic peptide, and creatinine were significantly associated with the RE. Conclusions: Both frailty and inadequate energy intake reduce the rate of improvement in activities of daily living in patients with musculoskeletal diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geriatric Malnutrition and Frailty)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 774 KiB  
Article
Easy-to-Use Guidelines on Protein Intake and Physical Activity Recommendations Derived from the COGFRAIL Study and the Toulouse Frailty Clinic
by Eva Peyrusqué, Gabor Abellan van Kan, Patricia Alvarez Rodriguez, Nicolas Martinez-Velilla, Gaelle Soriano, Marion Baziard, Emmanuel Gonzalez-Bautista and Sandrine Sourdet
Nutrients 2025, 17(8), 1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17081294 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 388
Abstract
Background/Objectives: In primary care, tailored physical activity and nutritional counselling are scarce for older adults. Several challenges contribute to this issue, the primary obstacle being limited access to expert healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to propose a quick, easy-to-implement case-finding [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: In primary care, tailored physical activity and nutritional counselling are scarce for older adults. Several challenges contribute to this issue, the primary obstacle being limited access to expert healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to propose a quick, easy-to-implement case-finding tool offering straightforward nutritional and physical activity counselling to overcome these barriers. Methods: Cross-sectional, baseline analysis was performed on 277 participants of the Cognitive Function and Amyloid Marker in Frail Older Adults (COGFRAIL) study, aged 70 years and older with mild cognitive impairment (mini-mental state examination score ≥ 20) and autonomy in daily living activities (ADL ≥ 4). Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, physical function was assessed using the short physical performance battery (SPPB), and nutrition was assessed using the mini nutritional assessment (MNA). A structured dietary interview was conducted to collect data on a typical daily intake pattern. A second database of 725 autonomous frail older adults from the Frailty clinic was used to test the robustness of the findings. Results: Participants with MNA scores < 24/30 and SPPB scores < 6/12 presented a high percentage of protein (74.1%) and caloric (66.7%) deficiency compared to the other categories. Based on standard daily protein and caloric recommendations, age, and weight, this category had a daily protein-caloric deficit of −19.4 ± 22.7 g and −225.5 ± 430.1 Kcal. Conclusions: Based on the data, an easy-to-use algorithm using MNA and SPPB scores is suggested. This algorithm could serve as an effective tool for guiding nutritional and physical activity counselling for community-dwelling older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geriatric Malnutrition and Frailty)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 511 KiB  
Article
Dehydration and Malnutrition—Similar Yet Different: Data from a Prospective Observational Study in Older Hospitalized Patients
by Nina Rosa Neuendorff, Rainer Wirth, Kiril Stoev, Maria Schnepper, Isabel Levermann, Baigang Wang, Chantal Giehl, Ulrike Sonja Trampisch, Lukas Funk and Maryam Pourhassan
Nutrients 2025, 17(6), 1004; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17061004 - 12 Mar 2025
Viewed by 607
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Dehydration and malnutrition are common conditions in older adults. Although both are regulated by different pathways, they seem to share common risk factors, such as dysphagia and dementia. Only scarce data on their co-occurrence are published. An exploratory analysis of a multicenter [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Dehydration and malnutrition are common conditions in older adults. Although both are regulated by different pathways, they seem to share common risk factors, such as dysphagia and dementia. Only scarce data on their co-occurrence are published. An exploratory analysis of a multicenter prospective trial on the determinants of malnutrition to evaluate the potential association between malnutrition and dehydration in older hospitalized patients was performed. Methods: Patients underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, their nutritional status was evaluated using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, and routine laboratory tests were performed, including calculated serum osmolality. Results: A total of 454 patients were included in the analysis. Of those, 45% were classified as malnourished based on MNA-SF, and 42% according to GLIM criteria. Dehydration as determined by calculated serum osmolality was present in 32%. Multivariate binomial regression analysis revealed elevated serum creatinine (p < 0.001) and higher body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.020) as predictive factors for dehydration. Overlap between dehydration and malnutrition was present in 13% of patients; malnourished patients had no higher risk for dehydration and vice versa (p = 0.903). Conclusions: Malnutrition and dehydration are common in hospitalized older adults but do not frequently occur together. We identified that BMI and creatinine levels are significant predictors of dehydration risk among this population. Consequently, the implementation of separate screening assessments for malnutrition and dehydration is recommended to better identify and address these conditions individually. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geriatric Malnutrition and Frailty)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 1476 KiB  
Review
Sarcopenia and Cardiogeriatrics: The Links Between Skeletal Muscle Decline and Cardiovascular Aging
by Dimitrios Anagnostou, Nikolaos Theodorakis, Christos Hitas, Magdalini Kreouzi, Ioannis Pantos, Georgia Vamvakou and Maria Nikolaou
Nutrients 2025, 17(2), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17020282 - 14 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3952
Abstract
Sarcopenia, an age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, is increasingly recognized as a significant condition in the aging population, particularly among those with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the interplay between sarcopenia and cardiogeriatrics, emphasizing [...] Read more.
Sarcopenia, an age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, is increasingly recognized as a significant condition in the aging population, particularly among those with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the interplay between sarcopenia and cardiogeriatrics, emphasizing shared mechanisms such as chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging), hormonal dysregulation, oxidative stress, and physical inactivity. Despite advancements in diagnostic frameworks, such as the EWGSOP2 and AWGS definitions, variability in criteria and assessment methods continues to challenge standardization. Key diagnostic tools include dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) for muscle mass, alongside functional measures such as grip strength and gait speed. The review highlights the bidirectional relationship between sarcopenia and cardiovascular conditions such as heart failure, aortic stenosis, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which exacerbate each other through complex pathophysiological mechanisms. Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the mTOR pathway, NAD+ metabolism, and senescence-related processes offer promise in mitigating sarcopenia’s progression. Additionally, integrated interventions combining resistance training, nutritional optimization, and novel anti-aging therapies hold significant potential for improving outcomes. This paper underscores critical gaps in the evidence, including the need for longitudinal studies to establish causality and the validation of advanced therapeutic approaches in clinical settings. Future research should leverage multi-omics technologies and machine learning to identify biomarkers and personalize interventions. Addressing these challenges is essential to reducing sarcopenia’s burden and enhancing the quality of life for elderly individuals with comorbid cardiovascular conditions. This synthesis aims to guide future research and promote effective, individualized management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geriatric Malnutrition and Frailty)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop