KNOWLEDGE OF ANTIOXIDANT RICH FOODS AND THEIR CONSUMPTION PATTERNS BY MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS IN IGBO ETITI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE

Abstract

Middle-age is in-between adulthood and old age and lifestyle adopted is one of the major factors that contribute to how slow or fast the progression occurs. The study elicited information on knowledge of antioxidant rich foods and the way middle aged adults in Igbo Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State consume them. The cross-sectional study involved 399 adults whose information on personal and socio-economic status, knowledge of antioxidant-rich foods and their consumption patterns were obtained. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data on personal and socio-economic status, knowledge and consumption patterns of antioxidant rich foods while association between knowledge of antioxidant rich foods and consumption was tested with chi-square. Knowledge of antioxidant rich foods, 86% were not aware that vitamins, minerals and other compounds exist as antioxidants. Similarly, 96% could not identify dietary sources of antioxidants, 78.7% and 81.7% were not aware that vitamin C helps reduce effect of oxidative damage and vitamin E helps delay ageing, respectively. Overall, knowledge grade revealed that 59.9% and 40.1% had poor and good knowledge, respectively. Fruit and vegetable intakes showed that 28.1% and 11.3% took them twice daily while 23.3% ate grains, legumes and nuts twice daily. For the three food groups, 7.3% and 2.3% never consumed them. There were positive associations between knowledge of antioxidant rich foods and consumption from various sources by the adults. This shows that good knowledge of dietary sources of antioxidant improves intakes while reverse could be true when knowledge is poor.