
Nutrition and diet
Our research is guided by the top priorities identified by the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership on malnutrition and nutritional screening in older adults. These priorities include assessing, preventing, and treating malnutrition or the risk of malnutrition in community-dwelling older adults.
We focus on malnutrition and the risk of malnutrition in older adults and its impact on mortality, morbidity, and quality of life. Our investigations delve into the relationships between malnutrition, frailty, and sarcopenia.
Additionally, we examine various interventions for malnourished older adults, such as dietary advice, food fortification and oral nutritional supplements. We are also exploring the potential of digital technologies to encourage older adults to maintain a healthy diet and meet their nutritional requirements.
We are looking to develop our research to determine the characteristics of older adults who would benefit from target personalised nutritional interventions using predictive models based on outcomes established through patient and public engagement.
We leverage big data sources, including the UK Biobank and the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA), to answer research questions about the impact of malnutrition or the risk of malnutrition in older people.
We have a particular interest in the role of protein and activity in the loss of skeletal muscle mass in older adults. Our current research includes examining protein intake in relation to other key nutrients such as dietary fibre, saturated fat, and carbohydrates.
We are investigating the extent to which diet influences gut function, measured using lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, metabolomics, and markers of inflammation, to determine how muscle synthesis is affected and its subsequent impact on functionality. This research also extends to older individuals with comorbidities, exploring their protein and nutrient intake.
Current projects
Some of our projects relating to physical activity and exercise are funded through and conducted via the NIHR Greater Manchester Applied Research Collaboration Healthy Ageing Theme.
- Effect of protein intake on lean body mass and functionality in community-dwelling adults aged over 50 years living with multiple long-term conditions: a systematic review
- Home Parenteral Nutrition Priority Setting Partnership
- A James Lind Alliance to determine priority setting for research on malnutrition and nutritional screening between patients, carers and healthcare professionals