title: Non-starch polysaccharide/dietary fibre supplementation using small meals in long-stay frail elderly patients.
abstract: Small meals of high non-starch polysaccharide (NSP)/dietary fibre cakes were offered to clinically stable continuing-care elderly patients, replacing the standard provision of low NSP/dietary fibre commercial cakes in an attempt to improve their well being. The study design was comprised of a 4 week control period, a 4 week intervention period, when modified cakes were offered, and finally a second 4 week control period. During intervention, an additional 33% NSP or 23% dietary fibre was offered, but only 7.7% and between 3.5% and 5.6% were consumed, respectively. Anthropometric measurements and bowel frequency did not change throughout the study but a decrease in aperient use was noted. From this study it was concluded that more comprehensive changes in food provision are required to achieve the current recommended consumption of NSP/dietary fibre in continuing-care elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hankey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wynne
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Death
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003248:Constipation / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans