Twenty-three studies were included in the review: 8 RCTS,8 controlled non-randomised studies, 5 pre-test post-test studies, one cross-sectional study and one prospective cohort study.
Nutrition interventions in elderly people in the community meal setting.
Only one study out of three found short-term benefits of the programme. Success was related to focusing on high-risk individuals, use of a motivational group-led model, and the emphasis on improving vitamin, protein and mineral intakes.
Nutrition interventions in elderly people in communal settings.
None of the studies demonstrated adequate evidence for a benefit of intervention, although conversely, none provided adequate evidence for no benefit.
Nutrition interventions in the elderly population living in the community.
Evidence for the effect of nutrition interventions targeting elderly people in the general community was poor.
Nutrition interventions as part of health promotion interventions.
The results of three RCTs suggest that a feedback/goal-setting type intervention may lead to improved eating behaviours in elderly people.