Aging and Nutrition: Theories, Consequences, and Impact of Nutrients

Purpose of Review This review tries to provide a comprehension of the relation existing between aging and nutrition. Recent Findings Macronutrients and micronutrients obtained from food intake support biological and physiological activities required for optimal health. The past decade has witnessed studies demonstrating a link between malnutrition and accelerated aging or age-related disorders. Aging causes loss of function in tissues and organs and is explained by different theories such as free radical or reactive oxygen species (ROS), nutritional intervention in the name of caloric or dietary restriction (CR/DR), or endocrine theories. These theories confirm the bridge between nutrition and aging, and give the clues on how aging and age-related diseases can be mitigated by macronutrients like proteins and carbohydrates, and by micronutrients, including vitamins and essential minerals. Summary This review, besides giving insight into the precedent theories and findings, answers the following questions: Which nutrients are essential or need to be considered in the elderly? Do elderly feed themselves without difficulties? What are the basic causes and consequences of aging that link it to nutrition? Through this insight and those answers, the article lays the path down for further studies on the interaction between the aging process and different types of nutrients.