Dietary factors in relation to daily activity energy expenditure and mortality among older adults.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between dietary factors to daily activity energy expenditure (DAEE) and mortality among older adults.


METHODS
A sub-study of Health, Aging, and Body Composition study.


METHODS
298 older participants (aged 70-82 years) in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Energy Expenditure sub-study.


METHODS
Dietary factors, DAEE, and all-cause mortality were measured in 298 older participants. Dietary factors include dietary intake assessed by the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Healthy Eating Index (HEI), and self-reported appetite and enjoyment of eating. DAEE was assessed using doubly labeled water. All-cause mortality was evaluated over a 9 year period.


RESULTS
Participants in the highest tertile of DAEE were more likely to be men and to report having a 'good' appetite; BMI among men, proportion married, IL-6 and CRP levels and energy intake were also higher. Fewer black participants were in the 'good' HEI category. Participants in the 'good' HEI category had higher cognitive scores and a higher education level. Participants who reported improvement in their appetite as well as participants who reported a 'good' appetite were at lower risk for mortality (HR (95% CI): 0.42 (0.24-0.74) and 0.50 (0.26-0.88), respectively) even after adjusting for DAEE, demographic, nutritional and health indices.


CONCLUSIONS
We showed an association between DAEE and appetite and mortality among well-functioning, community-dwelling older adults. These findings may have some practical use for the health providers. Inclusion of a question regarding appetite of an elderly patient may provide important information regarding risk for health deterioration and mortality.
Shahar
D R
DR
Daniel Abraham International Center for Health and Nutrition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. dshahar@bgu.ac.il
Yu
B
B
Houston
D K
DK
Kritchevsky
S B
SB
Lee
J-S
JS
Rubin
S M
SM
Sellmeyer
D E
DE
Tylavsky
F A
FA
Harris
T B
TB
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States