Adequacy of nutritional intake among older men living in Sydney, Australia: findings from the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP).
Previous research shows that older men tend to have lower nutritional intakes and higher risk of under-nutrition compared with younger men. The objectives of this study were to describe energy and nutrient intakes, assess nutritional risk and investigate factors associated with poor intake of energy and key nutrients in community-dwelling men aged ≥75 years participating in the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project - a longitudinal cohort study on older men in Sydney, Australia. A total of 794 men (mean age 81·4 years) had a detailed diet history interview, which was carried out by a dietitian. Dietary adequacy was assessed by comparing median intakes with nutrient reference values (NRV): estimated average requirement, adequate intake or upper level of intake. Attainment of NRV of total energy and key nutrients in older age (protein, Fe, Zn, riboflavin, Ca and vitamin D) was incorporated into a 'key nutrients' variable dichotomised as 'good' (≥5) or 'poor' (≤4). Using logistic regression modelling, we examined associations between key nutrients with factors known to affect food intake. Median energy intake was 8728 kJ (P5=5762 kJ, P95=12 303 kJ), and mean BMI was 27·7 (sd 4·0) kg/m2. Men met their NRV for most nutrients. However, only 1 % of men met their NRV for vitamin D, only 19 % for Ca, only 30 % for K and only 33 % for dietary fibre. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only country of birth was significantly associated with poor nutritional intake. Dietary intakes were adequate for most nutrients; however, only half of the participants met the NRV of ≥5 key nutrients.
1Centre for Education and Research on Ageing,Concord Hospital,University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2139,Australia.
Rosilene V R
RV
Waern
2School of Public Health,University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2006,Australia.
Robert G
RG
Cumming
1Centre for Education and Research on Ageing,Concord Hospital,University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2139,Australia.
Fiona
F
Blyth
1Centre for Education and Research on Ageing,Concord Hospital,University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2139,Australia.
Vasi
V
Naganathan
4School of Molecular Bioscience,University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2008,Australia.
Margaret
M
Allman-Farinelli
1Centre for Education and Research on Ageing,Concord Hospital,University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2139,Australia.
David
D
Le Couteur
5Charles Perkins Centre,University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2006,Australia.
Stephen J
SJ
Simpson
3ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR),University of New South Wales,NSW 2033,Australia.
Hal
H
Kendig
1Centre for Education and Research on Ageing,Concord Hospital,University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2139,Australia.
Vasant
V
Hirani
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D018977:Micronutrients; D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D
CHAMP Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project; Dietary intake; Dietary requirements; Elderly; Males; NRV nutrient reference values; PAL physical activity level; UL upper level