Energy and nutrient intake of young-old, old-old and very-old elderly in Germany.
BACKGROUND
Reliable information about the nutritional status of elderly people in Germany is lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To describe energy and nutrient intake of elderly people living in private households in Germany with special focus on age-related differences in the elderly.


METHODS
Descriptive nationwide cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Germany, 1998.


METHODS
: A random sample of 4020 elderly men and women living independently in private households stratified in three age groups (65-74, 75-84, 85+ y), of which 1550 participated and 1372 (789 female subjects) provided reliable 3-day estimated dietary records.


RESULTS
The median daily energy intake was 2207 kcal (9.2 MJ) in men and 1994 kcal (8.3 MJ) in women without difference between the age groups. Protein intake amounted to 91 and 81 g/day, respectively, corresponding to 1.2 g/kg body weight per day. The median intake was well above the recommended amount for all nutrients except dietary fibre, calcium, vitamin D and folate, where 38, 35, 75 and 37% did not reach two-thirds of the recommended amount. An age-related decline was observed for calcium intake in male and for dietary fibre, water, calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamins A, E, C and thiamin intake in female participants; however, the overall picture was unaffected by these differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary intake in these independently living elderly, including the very-old, is adequate for most of the evaluated nutrients. Increased intake of foods rich in dietary fibre, calcium, vitamin D and folate as well as regular sunlight exposure is recommended in order to optimize nutrient supply in this population group.


BACKGROUND
German Ministry of Health.
Volkert
D
D
Department of Nutrition Science, University of Bonn, Germany. d.volkert@uni-bonn.de
Kreuel
K
K
Heseker
H
H
Stehle
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012737:Sex Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D