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Dietary intake of energy, nutrients and water in elderly people living at home or in nursing home

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

There is a lack of detailed information on dietary intake in elderly people at an individual level, which is crucial for improvement of nutritional support. The aim of this study was to investigate the dietary intake in elderly people in two types of living situations.

Design

Observational study, analysing prospective data.

Setting

The dietary intake was studied in elderly people living at home or in nursing home, in different cities of Sweden.

Participants

A total of 264 elderly people (mean age 84) participated in the observational study.

Measurements

Dietary intake was measured using weighed food records and food diaries, comparing females and males. The observed dietary intake was related to Recommended intake and Lower intake level.

Results

All dietary intake and patient characteristic variables showed large individual differences (ranges). We found no significant differences (p>0.05) between those living at home and nursing home residents regarding the average intake of energy, protein and water when expressed as total intake per kg of body weight. A very low daily intake of energy (<20 kcal/kg body weight/day) was observed in 16% of the participants. For vitamin D and iron, 19% and 15%, respectively, had intakes below the Lower intake level. There was no correlation between intake of energy, protein or water and resident characteristics such as age, autonomy, morbidity, nutritional state or cognition.

Conclusions

The large individual differences (ranges) in energy, nutrients and water show that the use of mean values when analysing dietary intake data from elderly people is misleading. From a clinical perspective it is more important to consider the individual intake of energy, nutrients and water. Ageism is intrinsic in the realm of ‘averageology’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Municipality of Örebro, Health and Social Care and Örebro University, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro, Sweden

    Stina Engelheart

  2. Örebro University, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro, Sweden

    G. Akner

  3. Municipality of Örebro, Health and Social Care and Örebro University, School of Health and Medical Sciences, 701 82, Örebro, Sweden

    Stina Engelheart

Authors
  1. Stina Engelheart
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  2. G. Akner
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Correspondence to Stina Engelheart.

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Engelheart, S., Akner, G. Dietary intake of energy, nutrients and water in elderly people living at home or in nursing home. J Nutr Health Aging 19, 265–272 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-015-0440-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-015-0440-0

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