This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Extending Quality of Life Grant [GR/R2 6856/01], Nintedanib United Kingdom. “
“Falls are a major threat to the health of elderly. Approximately one in three community dwelling elderly over 65 years, and even one in two over 85 years experience at least one fall every year (Cameron et al., 2010, CBO, 2004, Neyens, 2007 and Tinetti, 2003). In institutionalized elderly, the incidence rates of falls are even higher: 1.5–2 falls per bed annually

(Dijcks et al., 2005). One out of ten falls results in a serious injury (CBO, 2004, Dijcks et al., 2005, Neyens, 2007 and Rubenstein et al., 1994). The consequences of falls are therefore considerable. Besides a physical and economical impact, such as fractures and health care costs, falls also have a psychological impact, for example by increasing the fear of falling (Zijlstra, 2008). Few falls have a single click here cause; the majority occurs by interactions between long-term predisposing factors, mainly intrinsic risk factors, and short-term

factors, mainly extrinsic risk factors (Nevitt, Cummings, & Hudes, 1991). Therefore, all strategies that can help to reduce the risk of falling are important. With aging, major risk factors for falls are related to physical activity and muscle strength impairment. Muscle weakness and gait and balance deficits increase the risk of falling about Selleckchem Rucaparib 3- to 4-fold (AGS, BGS, & American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Panel on Falls Prevention, 2001). The underlying decline in muscle mass and muscle function that occurs with aging is also known as sarcopenia

(Boirie, 2009). This condition has a multi-factorial etiology in which senescent changes in neuromuscular tissue (Tomonaga, 1977), chronic diseases and medications (Tinetti, 2003), atrophy of disuse (Bortz, 2009), an imbalance in protein metabolism, inadequate nutritional intake and malnutrition (Jeejeebhoy, 1994 and Kinney, 2004) play a role. Several nutrients and nutritional indicators have been associated with impaired muscle mass and function, e.g. protein under nutrition, protein-energy malnutrition, and low dietary intake of vitamins and minerals (Brown, 1995 and Coleman et al., 2000). Inadequate nutritional intake is common in elderly and indicative of the anorexia of aging. Swallowing disorders, bad oral health, lack of taste and smell, eating dependency and chewing problems are often part of the multi-morbidity, especially in frail and disabled elderly in residential LTC. The prevalence of malnutrition in these care facilities is about 25% (Halfens et al., 2008 and Meijers, 2009). Yet, malnutrition is often unrecognized despite being associated with (a) an increased chance of institutionalization, i.c.