Samenvatting

Introduction: Age-related decline in physical performance causes longer hospitalization and higher mortality rates. The role various micronutrients have on this has been broadly researched, yet a clear overview of current literature’s consensus lacks. Therefore, this narrative review investigatesthe role of micronutrients on physical performance in older adults.Methods: An online database search wasconducted between September and November 2020. Search strings were predefined. Articles on the role of serum micronutrient status or dietary micronutrient intake on either physical performance or muscle mass in community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults (>65 years old) were selected. The search and thescreening of articles was performed by two researchers independently. The quality of selected articles was evaluated using the EPHPP Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Results: A total of 4076 articles were identified, of which 36 were included in data extraction. A combination of observational and experimental studies found significant associations between vitamin D (n=7) and magnesium (n=3) on physical performance in community-dwelling older adults. One cross-sectional study significantly associated magnesium and muscle mass in this group. Observational studies in this group showed positive associations between physical performance andvitaminsK (n=2), E (n=2), C (n=3)and minerals phosphorus (n=1), sodium and potassium (n=1), copper with zinc (n=2) and selenium (n=3). One observational study significantly associated selenium with muscle mass in community-dwelling older adults. No significance was found between any micronutrient on either physical performance or muscle mass in institutionalized older adults. No literature was identified on physical performance or muscle mass and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B8 and the minerals chloride, chrome, fluorine, manganese or molybdenum. Conclusion:Vitamin D and magnesium seem to be the most promising tohave a positive effect on physical performance incommunity-dwellingolder adults. Furthermore, vitamins K, E and C and minerals phosphorus, sodium and potassium and copper with zinc seem to be promising, yet more research needs to be done to determine significance. Most included studies were observationalstudies, as such, more randomized controlled trialsare needed to provide solid evidence on the role of a specific micronutrient on physical performance in older adults.