Usual Intake of Food Components in Adults Age 71+ from WWEIA, NHANES 2013–2016

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Compare the usual intake of food components and the percent meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015–2020 (DGA) energy-specific recommendations for males and females age 71+. Methods This analysis is based on 24-hr recalls from 1422 individuals age 71 and older from What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2016 (WWEIA, NHANES). It uses the Food Patterns Equivalents Databases for 2013–2014 and 2015–2016. These databases contain the amounts of Food Patterns components for each food and beverage reported by each WWEIA, NHANES respondent. Usual intake distributions of selected food patterns components are estimated using the National Cancer Institute method. These distributions are then compared to the energy-specific recommendations in the DGA as appropriate for each respondent, based on age, sex, and physical activity level. The NHANES Physical Activity Questionnaire is used to classify respondents as sedentary, moderately active, or active. Results Significantly more males than females meet the energy-specific recommendation for protein foods (52% vs 30%, P < .001) and dairy foods (6% vs 1%, P < .001) while significantly more females than males meet the recommendation for limiting sodium (34% vs 9%, P < .001). There are no significant differences between males and females meeting the recommendations for vegetables, fruits, grains, added sugars, and saturated fat. Within the protein foods subgroups, significantly more males than females meet the recommendations for the meat, poultry, and egg subgroup (59% vs 40%, P < .001), but there are no differences for the total fish and seafood or the nuts, seeds, and soy products subgroups. Within the vegetable subgroups, there are no significant differences between males and females meeting the recommendations for dark green, red/orange, total starchy, legumes or other vegetables. Conclusions Less than half of adults age 71+ meet any of the DGA energy-specific recommendations with the exception of males where 52% meet the recommendation for protein foods and 59% meet the recommendation for the meat, poultry, egg subgroup within protein foods. Only 1% of women meet the recommendation for dairy foods. Funding Sources USDA, ARS.