Nutritional Status and Cardiovascular Disease in Older Adults: Clinical Perspectives from Mechanisms to Management
Nutritional status is a pivotal determinant of health and longevity in ageing populations. Malnutrition, overnutrition, and sarcopenic obesity are increasingly recognised as key modifiers of CV risk in older adults. Beyond caloric imbalance, age-related metabolic, hormonal, and inflammatory changes profoundly influence CV structure and function. Both nutrient deficiency and excess contribute to endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation, core mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis, heart failure, and frailty. This review analyses the complex interplay between nutrition and cardiovascular diseases in older adults, outlining physiological mechanisms, diagnostic tools for nutritional assessment, and evidence-based dietary strategies aimed at prevention and management. Particular attention is given to the challenges of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and altered body composition that shape nutritional care in geriatric cardiology.
Authors
- Massimo Grimaldi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9347-8884)
- Fabiana Lucà (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5369-5382)
- Sandro Gelsomino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7746-989X)
- Claudio Bilato (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3474-0579)
- M GULIZIA
- Giovanna Geraci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0092-8717)
- Iris Parrini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0038-9445)
- Roberto Ceravolo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1412-9406)
- Nadia Ingianni
- Carmelo Massimiliano Rao
- Fabrizio Oliva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9459-2488)
- Federico Nardi
- Caterina Patrizia Ceruso
- Maria Teresa Ferrò
- Clementina Silvia Iannì
Institutions
- AOL (United States) (US)
- CTO Hospital (IT)
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda (IT)
- Santa Maria Nuova Hospital (IT)
- Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze (IT)
- Tonan Hospital (JP)
- Ospedale Sant Antonio (IT)
- Ospedale Garibaldi (IT)
- Ospedale di Santo Spirito (IT)
- Ospedale Koelliker (IT)
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale Alessandria (IT)
- Ospedale Generale Regionale Francesco Miulli (IT)
- University of Reggio Calabria (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Published
- 2026-06-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15135064
- Primary Topic
- Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00