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Dietary availability in elderly Portuguese households
Débora M Santos1, Sara S P Rodrigues1, Bruno M P M Oliveira1
11Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Universidade do Porto (FCNAUP),Rua Dr. Roberto Frias,4200-465 Porto,Portugal.
Public Health Nutrition
|April 26, 2014
Summary
Dietary patterns in Portuguese elderly households shifted, with increased fruits and vegetables in solitary females. However, overall macronutrient imbalances suggest declining diet quality across all elderly groups.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Dietary habits significantly impact the health and well-being of aging populations.
- Understanding temporal trends in food availability is crucial for public health interventions targeting elderly nutrition.
- Portuguese elderly households exhibit diverse dietary patterns influenced by household composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze dietary availability and its temporal changes in Portuguese households with individuals aged 65 years and older.
- To compare dietary patterns across different elderly household types: solitary females, solitary males, and couples.
- To identify trends in food, beverage, energy, and nutrient intake over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from four cross-sectional Portuguese Household Budget Surveys (1989/1990 to 2005/2006).
- Calculated daily per capita availability of food, beverages, energy, and key nutrients (macronutrients, lipids, simple sugars).
- Analyzed differences between solitary elderly female, solitary elderly male, and couple households, and examined time trends.
Main Results:
- Decreased availability of cereals, fats/oils, potatoes, and sugar/sugar products.
- Increased availability of milk/milk products, fruits, bottled water, fruit/vegetable juices, and soft drinks.
- Over time, total energy and carbohydrates decreased, while proteins and saturated fatty acids increased; lipid and simple sugar trends varied by household type.
Conclusions:
- Increased fruit and vegetable intake in solitary elderly females suggests a healthier dietary shift for this group.
- Overall macronutrient profile imbalances across all elderly household types indicate a potential decline in diet quality.
- Nutritional strategies may be needed to address specific dietary deficiencies and imbalances in the Portuguese elderly population.
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