Nutritional literacy as a potential moderator of the intrinsic capacity–frailty relationship in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Nutritional literacy as a potential moderator of the intrinsic capacity–frailty relationship in older adults: a cross-sectional study. Download PDF Abstract Intrinsic capacity (IC) and frailty are two interrelated constructs that shape the functional trajectory of aging. Although both are influenced by multiple lifestyle and health-related factors, limited evidence exists on how nutritional literacy (NL), the nutrition-specific knowledge and skills required making informed dietary decisions, may modify this relationship.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among 250 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and above. Data were collected using validated tools: the WHO ICOPE screening tool for IC, the FRAIL scale for frailty, and the 28-item NL Scale. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to examine NL as a potential moderator in the IC–frailty relationship.

Participants had a mean age of 67.13 ± 6.23 years, and 59.2% were female. The mean IC score was 3.13 ± 1.16 and the mean frailty score was 2.05 ± 1.16. IC correlated negatively with frailty (r=–0.326, p < 0.001), and NL showed a similar inverse correlation (r=–0.199, p = 0.002).

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