title: Can nutrition label recognition or usage affect nutrition intake according to age?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the use of nutrition labeling on nutritional intake according to age groups, focusing on Korean elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants (N = 5223) were adults at least 20 y of age and had participated in the Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey in 2012. Data for recognition/use of nutrition labels were obtained by self-report. Nutrition intake also was estimated by 24-h dietary recall. Participants were categorized into three age groups: 20 to 39 y, 40 to 59 y, and ≥60 y. Generalized linear model was conducted to test mean differences between nutrition label recognition (NLR) and nutrition label use (NLU) groups for nutrient intake, according to the age groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results from this study indicated that younger individuals (age groups of 20-39 and 40-59 y) in the NLU group showed a significant association with nutrient intake compared to those in the NLR group. Additionally, nutrition intake status in the NLU group improved positively. Whereas older participants (≥60 y) in the NLR group showed a significant association with most nutrient intake compared with the NLU group. The study also found that protein intake was reduced in the NLU group compared with the non-NLU group across the age groups, except for older participants (age group 20-39 y: 79.16 versus 86.30 g, P = 0.050; age group 40-59 y: 69.97 versus 75.58 g, P = 0.040; age group of ≥60 y: 64.72 versus 64.89 g, P = 0.967).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed that nutrition labeling cannot be effective for the elderly, and there were several areas of misunderstanding. Therefore, more systematic education on the topic of nutrition labeling is required to help the elderly make healthier food decisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Foodservice Management, Kyungsung University, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hak-Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Kyungsung University, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chorong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health Care, Kyungsung University, Busan, South Korea. Electronic address: jkno3@ks.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jae-Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: No
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D032882:Comprehension; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005515:Food Labeling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D056910:Republic of Korea; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Elderly; Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES); Nutrient intake; Nutrition label recognition; Nutrition label use