老人肌少症之營養防治與照護

Nutritional Care for the Prevention and Treatment of Elderly Sarcopenia

肌少症是老人常見的問題，它不只影響老年人的身體健康和行動能力，也增加功能障礙、罹病率、失能及死亡率。「營養」對肌少症的影響，無論是預防或治療都扮演著重要的角色，適當的營養能夠延緩或改變其造成的不良影響。有些營養素如蛋白質、維生素D、維生素B群、抗氧化物、Omega-3脂肪酸和酸鹼平衡等，曾被報導與肌少症的發生有關，如蛋白質攝取不足會減少肌蛋白合成、維生素D可以促進肌肉蛋白質的合成、維生素12和葉酸與骨密度相關等。預防肌少症需要有充足的營養，尤其是要 有適當的體位，優良且充足的蛋白質攝取。建議每餐攝取優質蛋白質約25-30公克，並儘量平均分於各餐中。積極的營養介入，無論在肌少症之預防或治療上都是很有效益的。

Sarcopenia is a common problem for the elderly. It not only affects the health and operational capacity of the elderly, but also increased dysfunction, morbidity, disability and mortality. Proper nutrition intervention plays an important role on either prevention or treatment of sarcopenia to delay or change the adverse effects caused by sarcopenia. Some nutrients such as protein, vitamin D, vitamins B, antioxidants, ω-3 fatty acids and acid-base balance, have been reported with sarcopenia occurrence. For examples inadequate intake of protein could reduce muscle protein synthesis; vitamin D could increase the synthesis of muscle protein; 12 vitamins and folic acid were associated with bone mineral density and so on. Sarcopenia prevention requires adequate nutrition, especially to have a proper body weight, good and adequate protein intake. About 25-30 grams of high quality protein intake per meal was recommended and better to have them in each meal. Nutritional interventions are with benefits for both in the prevention or treatment of sarcopenia.