The impact of home-delivered meal services on the nutritional intake of community living older adults: a systematic literature review.

5 Repeated evidence

How much this weighs: several studies in people, combined — the strongest kind of evidence there is.

Type of study: meta-analysis or systematic review
Studied in: people
Participants: not stated in the abstract
Published: 2021 in Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association
Cited: 23 times by other research
Who paid: Not declared. PubMed carries no conflict-of-interest statement for most articles; that is not the same as independent.
Source: PubMed 31266095 · doi 10.1111/jhn.12690

The plain-language write-up of this study is still being written. Below is the abstract exactly as the researchers published it.

Abstract by the researchers — original text

BACKGROUND: There is a global increase in populations aged over 65 years. Physiological changes that occur during ageing may increase the nutritional risk for older adults. To avoid malnutrition and address some of the barriers to obtain an adequate food supply, home-delivered meals services provide meals in the home or in congregate settings for older adults who require nutritional support. METHODS: This systematic literature review explored whether nutritional intake is improved in community-living older adults when receiving meal services compared to when meal services are not received. Four electronic databases were searched up to 31 January 2019. In total, 13 original studies were included in this analysis with the components: intervention of home-delivered meal or congregate meal services to older adults; comparison with groups not receiving meal services or days not receiving the meal service; and nutritional intake as an outcome measured by food history, dietary recall and/or food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The results supported a beneficial effect of home-delivered meals on dietary intake of energy, protein and/or certain micronutrients in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: The increased total energy intake is a positive influence on malnutrition risk in frail older adults and the increased protein intake supports good health, promotes recovery from illness and assists in maintaining functionality in older adults. Additionally, there was a particular increase in calcium intake, which is relevant in ageing, especially for bone health.