title: Neno R, neno M (2006) promoting a healthy diet for older people in the community. nursing standard 20 29 59-63.
abstract: Maintaining a healthy diet for older people is challenging for several reasons. Lean body mass and basal metabolic rate decline with age. Although this means that energy requirement is reduced, the need for other nutrients may increase. Vitamins A and C and calcium are important in later life but they may be deficient in the average diet of older people. Vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption and is mainly obtained form the action of sunlight on the skin. An estimated 50 per cent of older people have an inadequate intake of vitamin D so vulnerable people should take a daily supplement.