Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 16, 2026
12:33
High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities
Published on: November 15, 2013
48.7K
[Not Available].
Susana Jiménez-Redondo1, Beatriz Beltrán de Miguel, Javier Gómez-Pavón
1Department of Nutrition. Pharmacy Faculty. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. s_jimenezredondo@yahoo.com.
Nutricion Hospitalaria
|August 12, 2016
Summary
Elderly Spanish adults consume insufficient cereals, vegetables, and protein, deviating from the Mediterranean diet. Poorer nutritional status correlates with reduced intake, except for dairy and ready meals.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited research exists on the dietary patterns of the oldest populations.
- Understanding the diet of very old adults is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess food group consumption and adherence to dietary guidelines in community-dwelling elderly Spanish adults.
- To investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and malnutrition risk in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 98 non-institutionalized adults aged 80 years and older in Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid.
- Food consumption data was collected via 24-hour dietary recall, and nutritional risk was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA).
Main Results:
- Consumption of cereals, vegetables, and meat/fish/eggs was below recommended levels.
- Poorer nutritional status (lower MNA scores) was associated with reduced fruit intake and increased consumption of milk/dairy products and ready meals.
- Men consumed more snacks/pickles and alcoholic beverages than women.
Conclusions:
- The dietary patterns of elderly individuals in Villanueva are shifting away from the traditional Mediterranean diet.
- While some food groups are consumed adequately, significant shortfalls exist in cereals, vegetables, and protein sources.
- Further research is needed to clarify the impact of specific food groups like fruits, dairy, wine, and olive oil on the nutritional status of the elderly.
