Handbook of Clinical Nutrition
and Aging

It has been a decade since the fi rst edition of this Handbook was created. The intervening time has
indeed brought a mixture of blessings and concerns. Rapid scientifi c progress and advances in information transfer have fostered medical discoveries and dissemination of health-related information at
an unprecedented rate. Consumers are more aware of the value of health- promoting behaviors than
ever before, and older adults are paying close attention. For example, older persons are the greatest
consumers of dietary supplements. Many employers have introduced wellness in the workplace initiatives, including to their retirees. Yet, the stark economic diffi culties of the past few years have added
unanticipated challenges for many individuals and families, often making it diffi cult to take advantage
of these advances. The stress of limited time and resources and the confusion resulting from mixed
messages in the media can be particularly challenging for older adults. Many are living on a fi xed
income and coping with a number of comorbidities as they make choices about health-related behaviors, including nutrition. As a result, they may not rank nutrition highly amongst the complex array of
health-related recommendations they are offered, but we believe that they should!