A projected doubling in the global population of people aged ≥60 y by the year 2050 has major health and economic implications, especially in developing regions. Burdens of unhealthy aging associated with chronic noncommunicable and other age-related diseases may be largely preventable with lifestyle modification, including diet. However, as adults age they become at risk of "nutritional frailty," which can compromise their ability to meet nutritional requirements at a time when specific nutrient needs may be high. This review highlights the role of nutrition science in promoting healthy aging and in improving the prognosis in cases of age-related diseases. It serves to identify key knowledge gaps and implementation challenges to support adequate nutrition for healthy aging, including applicability of metrics used in body-composition and diet adequacy for older adults and mechanisms to reduce nutritional frailty and to promote diet resilience. This review also discusses management recommendations for several leading chronic conditions common in aging populations, including cognitive decline and dementia, sarcopenia, and compromised immunity to infectious disease. The role of health systems in incorporating nutrition care routinely for those aged ≥60 y and living independently and current actions to address nutritional status before hospitalization and the development of disease are discussed.

Calcium intake remains inadequate in many low‐ and middle‐income countries, especially in Africa and South Asia, where average intakes can be below 400 mg/day. Given the vital role of calcium in bone health, metabolism, and cell signaling, countries with low calcium intake may want to consider food‐based approaches to improve calcium consumption and bioavailability within their population. This is especially true for those with low calcium intake who would benefit the most, including pregnant women (by reducing the risk of preeclampsia) and children (by reducing calcium‐deficiency rickets). Specifically, some animal‐source foods that are naturally high in bioavailable calcium and plant foods that can contribute to calcium intake could be promoted either through policies or educational materials. Some food processing techniques can improve the calcium content in food or increase calcium bioavailability. Staple‐food fortification with calcium can also be a cost‐effective method to increase intake with minimal behavior change required. Lastly, biofortification is currently being investigated to improve calcium content, either through genetic screening and breeding of high‐calcium varieties or through the application of calcium‐rich fertilizers. These mechanisms can be used alone or in combination based on the local context to improve calcium intake within a population.

Objective This study investigated whether plasma adropin concentrations are influenced by sleep restriction and correlate with dietary preferences. Design and Methods Plasma adropin concentrations were measured by ELISA using samples from a study that investigated feeding behavior in sleep deprived lean (body mass index 22–26 kg/m2) men and women aged 30–45 y. Sleep (habitual or restricted to 4h/night) and diet were controlled during a 4-day inpatient period. On day 5, food was self-selected (FS). Adropin was measured on day 4 in samples collected throughout the day, and then after an overnight fast at 0730 on days 5 (Pre-FS) and 6 (Post-FS). Results Plasma adropin concentrations were not affected by sleep restriction. However, circulating adropin concentrations correlated with food selection preferences in women, irrespective of sleep status. Pre-FS adropin correlated positively with fat intake (total fat, r=0.867, P<0.05; saturated fat, r=0.959, P<0.01) and negatively with carbohydrate intake (r=−0.894, P<0.05) as a percent total energy. Post-FS adropin correlated with total (r=0.797, P<0.05) and saturated fat intake (r=0.945, P<0.01), and negative with total carbohydrate intake (r=−0.929, P<0.01). Pre-FS adropin also correlated with fat intake in kcal adjusted for body size (total fat, r=0.852, P<0.05; saturated fat, r=0.927, P<0.01). Conclusions Plasma adropin concentrations correlate with fat consumption in women.

Dietary calcium deficiency is considered to be widespread globally, with published estimates suggesting that approximately half of the world's population has inadequate access to dietary calcium. Calcium is essential for bone health, but inadequate intakes have also been linked to other health outcomes, including pregnancy complications, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Populations in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) are at greatest risk of low calcium intakes, although many individuals in high-income countries (HICs) also do not meet recommendations. Paradoxically, many LMICs with lower calcium intakes show lower rates of osteoporotic fracture as compared with HICs, though data are sparse. Calcium intake recommendations vary across agencies and may need to be customized based on other dietary factors, health-related behaviors, or the risk of calcium-related health outcomes. The lack of standard methods to assess the calcium status of an individual or population has challenged efforts to estimate the prevalence of calcium deficiency and the global burden of related adverse health consequences. This paper aims to consolidate available evidence related to the global prevalence of inadequate calcium intakes and associated health outcomes, with the goal of providing a foundation for developing policies and population-level interventions to safely improve calcium intake and status where necessary.