Intake of Energy and Nutrients and Meal Habits in 70‐year‐old Males and Females in Gothenburg, Sweden a Population Study

ABSTRACT The objectives of this substudy within the population study “70‐year‐old people in Gothenburg, Sweden” were to survey the dietary habits of the probands including meal habits and intake of energy and nutrients. The subsample comprised 191 males and 199 females, of whom 182 males and 188 females took part in the complete dietary interview examination, comprising a 24‐hour recall interview and a dietary history interview. The examined subsample was considered representative of the 70‐year‐old population in Gothenborg. The dietary history method was found to be more valid than the 24‐hour recall method. On an average 1.8 hot meals and 0.9 meals of type beverages and sandwich with slices of meat, cheese etc. were consumed daily. The intakes of energy and nutrients were on average satisfactory but showed a fairly great variation. Examples of intakes calculated from the dietary history interview are (M±SD, males and females, respectively): Energy 9.8±2.4 MJ and 8.1±2.3 MJ, protein 74±18.7 g and 63±16.5 g, calcium 1033±414.0 mg and 927±368.0 mg and potassium 79±22.2 mmol and 68±25.1 mmol, respectively. Examples of significant associations between social data and data of the intake of energy and nutrients are that probands with an education higher than elementary school showed a higher proportion of energy intake from protein than other probands and that males living alone showed a lower iron intake than other males. A comparison between this study and cross‐sectional studies on e.g. middle‐aged women in Gothenburg showed that the energy intake and the body composition in females was of the same order of magnitude in these two groups. More definite conclusions concerning possible changes by age in intake of energy and nutrients presuppose, however, longitudinal studies. The present cross‐sectional data will be used as a basis for a prospective longitudinal geriatric/ gerontological study.