Whether multiple nutritional deficiencies have a synergic effect on mobility loss remains unknown. This study aims to evaluate associations between multi-nutritional deficits and physical performance evolution among community-dwelling older adults.
The scientists here included 386 participants from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial not receiving omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation and who had available data on nutritional deficits.
Baseline nutritional deficits were defined as plasma 25 hydroxyvitamin D <20 ng/ml, plasma homocysteine >14 mol/L, or erythrocyte omega-3 PUFA index 4.87%.
The Short Physical Performance Battery, gait speed, and chair rise time were used to assess physical performance at baseline and after 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months.
Within-group comparisons showed that physical function worsened over time, particularly in participants with 2 nutritional deficits; however, no between-group differences were observed when individuals without deficit and those with either 1 or 2 deficits were compared.