Food quality of long elderly and non-communicable chronic diseases

Abstract

The quality of the food of long-lived elderly and its relationship with non-communicable chronic diseases was evaluated. This a cross-sectional study with a population basis that was conducted in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, which is part of a larger project entitled “Health, nutrition and drug use by older people in Viçosa (MG): a population-based survey”. The interviews with the elderly was conducted through a semi-structured questionnaire, with most questions closed and pre-coded. Food intake data were obtained from the usual intake recall and the quality of the diet was assessed using the Revised Healthy Eating Index (HEI-R), validated for the Brazilian population. The sample consisted of 94 long-lived elderly, most of them female. They presented high sodium intake, low whole grains intake and HEI-R = 62.22. Diabetic older adults had higher total fruit intake, lower intake of Gord_AA (sugars, solid fats, and alcohol) and higher total HEI-R compared to non-diabetics. The presences of dyslipidemia and hypertension did not alter the consumption of any of the components. The results indicated the need for adequacy in food intake. Thus, specific nutritional interventions and guidelines for health promotion should be encouraged

Keywords

• health of the elderly
• food consumption
• elderly nutrition