Food consumption and risk of malnutrition in community-dwelling very old Spanish adults (≥ 80 years)

• Published in: Nutrición hospitalaria : organo oficial de la Sociedad Española de Nutrición Parenteral y Enteral Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 263 - 579
• Main Authors: Jiménez-Redondo, Susana, Beltrán de Miguel, Beatriz, Gómez-Pavón, Javier, Cuadrado Vives, Carmen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Grupo Arán 2016; Arán Ediciones, S. L
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Diet, Mediterranean; Eating; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Malnutrition - epidemiology; Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA); Nutrition & Dietetics; Nutrition Surveys; Nutritional Status; Patrón alimentario; Personas muy mayores de vida independiente; Raciones; Recomendaciones dietéticas; Risk Assessment; Sex Factors; Spain - epidemiology; Community-dwelling very old people. Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Dietary patterns. Servings. Dietary guidelines; Dietary guidelines; Dietary patterns; Patrón alimentario; Recomendaciones dietéticas; Servings; Community-dwelling very old people; Raciones; Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA); Personas muy mayores de vida independiente
• ISSN: 1699-5198; 0212-1611; 1699-5198
• DOI: 10.20960/nh.263

There are few studies assessing overall diet and food patterns of the oldest population.
To examine food groups consumption (grams and servings) and their compliance with the dietary guidelines in community-dwelling very old Spanish adults. The relationship with the risk of malnutrition was also studied.
Within the cross-sectional health study of elderly people of Villanueva de la Cañada (Madrid, Spain), in 98 non-institutionalized elders aged ≥ 80 years (66% women) food consumption was calculated from a 24-hour dietary recall and nutritional risk was assessed by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Statistical significance was evaluated at 95% confidence level (p < 0.05).
Men consumed significantly higher amounts of snacks/pickles and alcoholic beverages. The consumption of cereals/grain products (2 servings/day), vegetables (1.5 servings/day) and meat, fish, eggs (1.4 servings/day), was below desirable levels. As nutritional status got worse, fruit consumption was significantly smaller (p = 0.039). Relatively weak but highly significant correlations were found between MNA and oils/fats, fruits and alcoholic beverages. After adjustment for energy intake, oils and fats and fruits associations disappeared whereas a negative association between milk/dairy products and MNA was found.
Dietary patterns of the elderly population of Villanueva are departing from the traditional Mediterranean diet and though adequate consumption of fruits, milk/dairy products, oils/fats and sugar/confectionery has been achieved, cereals/grain products, vegetables and the meat, fish, eggs group consumption was below the desirable levels. Deterioration of the nutritional status coincided with a reduction in the consumption of all food groups except for ready meals and milk/dairy products whose consumption increased. Further research on the influence of fruit, milk/dairy products, wine and olive oil consumption on nutritional status is required.