Nutrition and health at retirement age in the United Kingdom

A total of 113 subjects participated in a detailed nutritional and health surveys shortly before their retirement from work. Data were collected using: 7-day weighed dietary intakes; interview questionnaires including topics such as smoking, activity, stress-related factors, health history of subject and family, detailed consumption of alcohol; frequency of consumption of specific foods and drinks. Health screening included routine biochemical and haematological analyses and assessment of nutritional status. Mean nutrient intakes met the United Kingdom RDA although ranges were wide. Mean energy intakes for women (1730 kcal +/- 400 s.d.) were below the RDA of 1900 kcal; men met the RDA of 2400 kcal. Energy consumption was highest in the third period of the day (after 14.30 hours). The distribution of energy from protein, fat, carbohydrate and alcohol was 16, 42, 39 and 3 per cent respectively. The main food sources of nutrients are reported. A mean Quetelet index of 24.7 +/- 3.4 was found in women and 25.7 +/- 3.2 in men. Blood analysis indicated that a small proportion of the sample were outside expected ranges; this was most marked for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma glutamyltransferase (gamma GT) where skewed distributions distorted the standard deviations. Prescribed medication was taken by 50 per cent of the sample; 33 per cent of the sample were cigarette smokers, 40 per cent had given up smoking, 27 per cent had never smoked cigarettes. Duplicate resting blood pressure readings showed a prevalence of hypertension. The data indicate areas of concern which should be dealt with at or before this stage of retirement from work.