Mean protein intake to reach a neutral nitrogen balance in elderly hospitalized patients is 1.06+/-0.28 g/kg per day, which is higher than current recommendations for healthy elderly people. Safe protein intake (that would be adequate to ensure that 95% of patients remain in positive nitrogen balance) is difficult to establish.
The mean REE of the geriatric patients studied was 18.8 kcal/kg per day, whereas energy intake was just sufficient to cover minimal requirements. Thus, hospitalized elderly patients are likely to benefit from higher calorie intake.
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