Abstract
Background: Older people have different nutritional requirements from those of the general population; in particular, they need a lower energy intake, higher protein content to preserve muscle mass, and a greater supply of vitamins and minerals to maintain good bone health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the degree of compliance with nutritional recommendations, and its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, and lifestyles in older people residing in the Spanish Mediterranean. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 341 people over 60 years old. Participants were selected using a snowball strategy. A validated food intake frequency questionnaire for older populations was used to determine the daily food intake. This evaluation was carried out at two time points from which the average nutrient intake was obtained. Sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables were obtained from an ad hoc elaborated questionnaire. Results: Compliance with dietary intakes was low, by deficiency, such as in vitamin D, where none of the participating subjects met the requirements, and iodine, where the compliance rate did not exceed 20%, or by excess, such as with monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, iron, B vitamins, vitamin E, and vitamin C. People with better blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels observed a higher degree of compliance with the recommended intakes. Living in rural areas, being divorced, or being illiterate negatively influence meeting the recommended intakes of certain nutrients. Increased physical activity was associated with an increased compliance with Kcal recommendations, cholesterol, and vitamin B2 intake. Conclusion: this study highlights the importance of accurately knowing the dietary intakes in the older population, and what factors, such as lifestyles or sociodemographic characteristics, may predispose to better or worse compliance with the recommendations.
Highlights
The world’s population is ageing significantly, with an estimated 2.1 billion people being over the age of 60 in the year 2050, doubling the current figure [1]
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that with the elimination of risk factors associated with chronic-degenerative diseases, such as tobacco, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, and poor food, the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes could be reduced by the objective of this study is to assess the degree of compliance with nutritional recommendations and its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, and lifestyles in older citizens residing in the Spanish Mediterranean
Assessment of dietary intake is critical in order to understand the relationship between nutrition and the prevention of age-related diseases, as well as the psychosocial factors that may be related to nutritional risk
Summary
The world’s population is ageing significantly, with an estimated 2.1 billion people being over the age of 60 in the year 2050, doubling the current figure [1]. The aging process has been linked to a number of psychological changes, such as a deterioration of individuals’ cognitive and functional abilities [4,5], as well as the presence of a number of comorbidities, such as a loss of muscle mass, digestive problems, deteriorating oral health, malnutrition, fragility, and the development of chronic-degenerative diseases. All of this causes a loss of health-related quality of life [6]. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 341 people over 60 years old
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