Abstract
Unique rapid urbanization-related changes in China may affect the dietary protein intake of the aging population. We aimed to evaluate trends in dietary protein intake and major food sources of protein and estimate conformity to the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) in the elderly Chinese population. A sample of 10,854 elderly adults aged 60 years or older, drawn from 10 waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) between 1991 and 2018, was included. Protein intake data were obtained on the basis of 3-day, 24 h dietary recalls. The dietary protein intake among elderly Chinese individuals declined from 63.3 g/day to 57.8 g/day over the 28-year period, with a −0.032 ± 0.0001 g/day change per year (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase in the proportion of subjects with a protein intake level below the estimated averaged requirement (EAR) and a reduction in the proportion of subjects consuming protein above the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) across all population subgroups. Cereals ranked as the major sources of dietary protein, although their contribution to dietary protein gradually decreased as time went on. The contribution from meat steadily rose from 18.2% in 1991 to 28.7% in 2018. The proportion of energy gained from fat increased notably, reaching 34.2% in 2018. The elderly Chinese population experienced a significant reduction in dietary protein intake. Although the transformation of dietary patterns had positive effects on improving protein quality due to increases in animal source food, some elderly Chinese individuals currently face the risk of inadequate dietary protein intake.
Highlights
With the coming aging of society, the rapid growth of the elderly adult population has become a global issue
We found a substantial increase in the proportion of participants with a protein intake level below the estimated averaged requirement (EAR) and a reduction in the proportion of participants consuming protein above the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) in every subgroup evaluated over the past 28 years, among those of older ages, those with primary education/illiteracy, and those living in villages
Dietary protein intake declined in the elderly Chinese population from 1991 to 2018, the percentages of energy gained from protein steadily remained between 11–13%
Summary
With the coming aging of society, the rapid growth of the elderly adult population has become a global issue. The Chinese Nutrition Society established the current DRIs for protein in 2013, which included the EAR and the RNI. The EAR for protein is 60 g/day for male adults aged above 18 years and 50 g/day for female adults aged above 18 years (0.9 g/kg/day). The RNI for protein is 65 g/day for male adults aged above 18 years and 55 g/day for female adults aged above 18 years (1.0 g/kg/day). A cross-sectional study showed that less than one-fifth of elderly adults (aged ≥ 60 years) had met the DRI recommendation for protein (
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