7/8/2011 --- Nutritional beverages made with an innovative whey protein concentrate from Arla Foods Ingredients are a promising new way to tackle the rising incidence of protein malnutrition among the elderly.

Recent estimates have put protein malnutrition among elderly hospital patients as high as 60%. In the UK, a survey has revealed that 42% of home care residents are at risk. Particularly elderly patients recovering from a fracture or illness or with a chronic disease are in the danger zone.

Supplemented with Lacprodan DI-7017 whey protein concentrate, acidic and neutral beverages can help reverse the negative trend, held responsible for declining life quality and even death.

Widespread deficiency

“Protein malnutrition is the result of a dietary protein intake that is continuously below the recommended daily allowance for adults of 0.8g per kilo body weight,” explains Erik Adamsen, Arla Foods Ingredients nutritionist.

“In some areas, research shows that as many as 41% of adults have a dietary protein intake below the RDA.”

Documented, long-life nutrition

Scientific studies indicate that protein-rich nutritional supplements such as Lacprodan DI-7017 may boost weight and muscle tissue and reduce the number of health complications in elderly patients.

Tolerant of ultra-high temperature processing (UHT), Lacprodan DI-7017 is suitable for the production of appealing protein beverages with a long shelf life.

High-quality protein source

“Until recently, nutritional supplementation with dairy proteins primarily made use of caseinates. The growing move towards whey supplementation follows extensive international research, which has revealed the high nutritional quality of whey protein,” Adamsen adds.

Apart from improving quality of life for the elderly, whey protein strategies that counter protein malnutrition are a means to reduced health care costs for the community.