Abstract
Background: A balanced diet and regular meal patterns contribute to health and quality of life among older people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of individual dietary counseling on nutritional status among community-dwelling older people (≥75 y) receiving Meals-On-Wheels (MOW). Methods: This study population consisted of 100 communitydwelling participants at risk of malnutrition in the year 2005, intervention group (n = 49) and control group (n = 51). Data of nutritional status, body weight, body mass index and plasma albumin were collected at the beginning of the study and at a two-year follow-up. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) test was used for nutritional screening. Results: Persons in the intervention group improved their nutritional status statistically significantly compared to the control group. The change between groups in MNA score was 3.14 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.33 to 4.01) and in serum albumin 1.48 g/L (95% CI: 0.02 to 2.93 g/L). Conclusions: It seems that dietary counseling with MOW improves the nutritional status in older people. MOW should be integrated with nutrition counseling.
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