UK-N/A-2300064 (V4) | September 2025
Authors:
Dr Ione de Brito-Ashurst, RD, PhD
Publish Date:
July 2021 | 4 min
Abstract:
This article discusses the importance of muscle mass in improving clinical outcomes and quality of life. There is a need to change the current malnutrition management approach from a focus on weight to targeting muscle mass. Screening tools should include assessment of muscle mass, and there should be a focus on the maintenance of muscle mass as a malnutrition management strategy.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Discuss the impact of muscle wasting in ageing, known as sarcopenia.
Identify screening and assessment tools available to identify those at risk of malnutrition and/or loss of muscle/muscle function.
Highlight the impact of high protein nutritional interventions to support muscle health in patients with or at risk of sarcopenia.
AUTHOR(S) BIO
DR IONE DE BRITO-ASHURST, RD, PHD
Head of Therapies & Rehabilitation, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London
Ione is a dietitian and most of her recent clinical work has been in critical care. This has led to her active research interest in prevention and management of muscle mass decline. However, her research as part of her master’s and PhD has been around renal nutrition. She carried out her master’s research in patients’ renal nutrition education looking at improving phosphate management.
This was followed by a trial in bicarbonate supplementation that was published in an USA journal, won a European prize for significant contribution to the renal field and led to changes in the American and European renal nutrition recommendations.
Ione’s PhD followed this – A dietary salt intervention to reduce blood pressure in the Bangladeshi chronic kidney disease patients. Her work aimed to bridge the gap between the acute and community sector in the renal care of this patient group and to reduce health inequalities.
Ione is currently part of the European Society Parenteral Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) Life Long Learning Faculty teaching group. She also works with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of NHS England as a specialist advisor. Despite the leadership role, Ione is still passionate about nutrition and critical care and works closely co-supervising Masters and PhDs at Brazilian Universities. Ione won the ‘Florence Nightingale Leadership’ scholarship award in 2016, the only allied health professional in the nursing group.
Ione joined the London Clinical Senate Council in May 2019.
