Sreemathy Venkatraman*

Chief Clinical Dietitian, Trustwell Hospitals, Bangalore, India

*Corresponding Author: Sreemathy Venkatraman, Chief Clinical Dietitian, Trustwell Hospitals, Bangalore, India.

Received: November 17, 2025; Published: December 18, 2025

Abstract

The coexistence of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and dysphagia creates a self‑perpetuating clinical cycle associated with frailty, hospitalization, aspiration pneumonia, increased morbidity, and reduced quality of life. Malnutrition accelerates skeletal muscle loss, including the muscles involved in mastication and swallowing, contributing to dysphagia. Sarcopenia independently weakens swallowing musculature and delays swallow initiation, further reducing oral intake. Dysphagia then leads to restricted food choices, inadequate protein–energy intake, and dehydration. Early screening and integrated interventions—including energy‑dense diets, protein optimization, texture modification, oral nutritional supplements, micronutrient support, and exercise‑based rehabilitation—are essential to break this cycle and preserve functional independence in older adults.

Keywords:Malnutrition; Sarcopenia; Dysphagia; Older Adults; Nutrition Therapy; Swallowing Disorders

References

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Citation

Citation: Sreemathy Venkatraman. “The Malnutrition–Sarcopenia–Dysphagia Triad: A Vicious Cycle and Its Nutritional Interventions".Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 10.1 (2026): 32-35.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Sreemathy Venkatraman. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.