The inclusion of dairy products in the diets of older adults can reduce the number of falls and bone fractures within this age group.
This is the clear conclusion emanating from the extensive research carried out by Melbourne University’s Dr. Sandra Iulaiano.
The leading nutritionist visited Belfast this week to meet with a range of heath professionals.
Her peer-reviewed research has confirmed that adequate dairy product inclusion rates in the diets of older adults bring about 46% reduction in hip fractures, a 33% reduction in fractures overall, and an 11% reduction in falls.
What’s more, the dairy intervention was cost-saving for fracture reduction.
Dr. Iuliano’s work took place over two years in 60 care homes and involved the participation of 7,000 plus older adults.
“As we get older our nutritional needs centre on a number of key dietary requirements including protein, calcium, and Vitamin B2.
“Dairy provides all these nutrients in a more than meaningful way, specifically milk and milk powders, cheese and yoghurt
“Driving this is the need to retain muscle mass and bone density. In turn, this reduces older people’s risk of falling and fracturing,” she said.
The expert added that “as people get older their daily food intakes decrease. This is because their appetites reduce and they become less active.
“Under these circumstances the nutritional density of the foods they eat must be increased.
“In practical terms this means that four servings of dairy a day will be required to replicate the results of the research carried out in Australia.”
Older adults
According to the University of Melbourne academic, this can be achieved in ways that mirror the potential for inclusion of dairy products within the diet.
“Milk can obviously be added to porridge or any other morning cereal. But the additional inclusion of skimmed milk powder will raise the dairy threshold from one to two servings at breakfast time alone.
“Dairy products can be easily included within all the meals served throughout the day. Making a cheese toasty at supper time, for example, is another easy and versatile way of increasing the dairy content of our diets,” she said.
Dr. Iuliano has calculated that increasing dairy foods to a similar level for older adults in Northern Ireland care homes would result in 1,600 fewer falls annually.
This in turn, could lead to savings equivalent of around £737,000 per year to Northern Ireland’s health system in hospital costs, and around another £726,800 to care homes themselves.
In 2023, Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency noted the cost of falls among the over-65s to the health service to be around £375m over two years.
“This estimate suggeststhe potential of dairy foods as low-cost, nutritional preventatives for older people,” said nutritionist at Dairy Council NI, Dr. Carole Lowis.
“Extra dairy foods can be incorporated into existing menus in a way that suits care home residents and indeed all older people, whether that’s a milky drink or serving cheese as a snack in between meals,” she added.
Dr. Iuliano’s calculation note that if protein and calcium intake is low in older adults of a similar age in the community, then it is feasible they too may benefit from the increased dairy consumption.
“Falls and fractures are among the most significant issues affecting the health and wellbeing of older people.
“By providing an estimation for Northern Ireland, Dr. Iuliano demonstrates the potential of dairy as a cost-effective means to positive ageing both to help improve the wellbeing of older people while saving the public purse,” Dr. Lowis added.
But all of this comes with one caveat: “For the enhanced dairy nutrition to make its full impact, older people must be receiving adequate amounts of Vitamin D..
“Within Australian care homes, residents receive regular Vitamin D supplementation,” Dr. luliano stressed.
