title: Dietary patterns and diet quality among diverse older adults: the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize dietary patterns among a diverse sample of older adults (≥ 65 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five counties in west central Alabama.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries (N=416; 76.8 ± 5.2 years, 56% female, 39% African American) in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Study of Aging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary data collected via three, unannounced 24-hour dietary recalls was used to identify dietary patterns. Foods were aggregated into 13 groups. Finite mixture modeling (FMM) was used to classify individuals into three dietary patterns. Differences across dietary patterns for nutrient intakes, sociodemographic, and anthropometric measurements were examined using chi-square and general linear models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three dietary patterns were derived. A "more healthful" dietary pattern, with relatively higher intakes of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, eggs, nuts, legumes and dairy, was associated with lower energy density, higher quality diets as determined by healthy eating index (HEI)-2005 scores and higher intakes of fiber, folate, vitamins C and B6, calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. The "western-like" pattern was defined by an intake of starchy vegetables, refined grains, meats, fried poultry and fish, oils and fats and was associated with lower HEI-2005 scores. The "low produce, high sweets" pattern was characterized by high saturated fat, and low dietary fiber and vitamin C intakes. The strongest predictors of better diet quality were female gender and non-Hispanic white race.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dietary patterns identified may provide a useful basis on which to base dietary interventions targeted at older adults. Examination of nutrient intakes regardless of the dietary pattern suggests that older adults are not meeting nutrient recommendations and should continue to be encouraged to choose high quality diets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. glj1@psu.edu
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Coffman
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Allman
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Locher
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hartman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000407:Alabama; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry; D004531:Eggs; D002149:Energy Intake; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D009753:Nutritive Value; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005227:Fatty Acids; D018977:Micronutrients