Longitudinal changes in the intake of energy and macronutrients of elderly Europeans. SENECA Investigators.
OBJECTIVE
To assess longitudinal changes in intakes of energy and macronutrients in elderly Europeans.


METHODS
Longitudinal study including a dietary assessment in 1988/1989, which was repeated in 1993.


METHODS
Serial data were collected in nine European towns: Belgium: Hamme (H/B); Denmark: Roskilde (R/DK); France: Haguenau (H/F) and Romans (R/F); Italy: Padua (P/I); the Netherlands: Culemborg (C/NL); Portugal: Vila Franca de Xira (V/P); Spain: Betanzos (B/E) and Switzerland: Yverdon (Y/CH). In other centres dietary intake data were collected in 1993 only: Portugal: Coimbra (C/P); Poland: Marki (M/PL); Northern Ireland: Ballymoney-Limavady-Portstewart (BLP/NI/UK) and United States: Mansfield (Connecticut) (M/CT/USA).


METHODS
Using standardized methodologies, data were collected from a random stratified sample of elderly men and women born between 1913 and 1918. In 1993 dietary intake data were collected from 1125 subjects by a modified validated dietary history method.


RESULTS
Over the 4-year study period, a decline in mean energy intake of one MJ or less per day was observed in most towns, which was significant (P < 0.01) in only four of the towns. The within- and between-centre variation of change was large. Overall, a slight decline was reported for all macronutrients and with the exception of protein, large within and between centre variations were observed in both men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
Intake of energy and macronutrients was found to decline with age. This may be of special concern for small eaters.
Moreiras
O
O
Ciudad Universitaria, Facultad de Farmacia, Madrid, Spain.
van Staveren
W A
WA
Amorim Cruz
J A
JA
Carbajal
A
A
de Henauw
S
S
Grunenberger
F
F
Roszkowski
W
W
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005060:Europe; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011897:Random Allocation
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D000431:Ethanol