Relation of age and self-reported chronic medical condition status with dietary nutrient intake in the US population

To examine the association of nutrient intake with age and self-reported chronic medical condition status in a large, nationally representative sample.

We used data from the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, 1989-1991. The analytic sample included subjects aged > or =25 years with 3 days of dietary data, and medical condition information (n=7,207). A positive response to having been informed by a doctor of having diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, osteoporosis, and stroke indicated the presence of chronic medical condition(s) (n=2,368). Sex-specific linear and logistic regression analyses adjusted for multiple covariates were used to examine the relation of age and morbidity status with nutrient intake.

In men, age was associated with an increased risk of consuming <100% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin E, vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and iron (p<0.05), and self-reported morbidity was associated with an increased risk of consuming <100% of the RDA of protein. Relative to men, women were more likely to report less than the RDA of most nutrients examined; however, neither age nor chronic disease status were associated with increased likelihood of reporting <100% of the RDA of any of the nutrients examined. In women, the probability of reporting <100% of the RDA of vitamin A, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C, and iron, and in men, the probability of reporting <100% of the RDA of vitamin C, declined with age (p<0.05). No adverse effect of age and chronic disease interaction on intake of most nutrients was noted in men or women.

Chronologic age and morbidity were associated with an increased risk of inadequate intake of several nutrients in free-living, independent men but not in women.