Dietary Intakes of Community-Dwelling Adults in the United States across Older Adulthood: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-March 2020.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional survey analysis of nationally representative population data (NHANES)
PubMed 38101520 · doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.12.014
What was done
Dietary intake data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2015–March 2020) were analyzed across three older adult age brackets: 60–69 years (n = 2,079), 70–79 years (n = 1,181), and 80+ years (n = 644) among noninstitutionalized US adults. Dietary intake was averaged from two nonconsecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Diet quality and food categories were evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI) via the population ratio method and the What We Eat in America categories.
What was found
Total HEI scores did not significantly differ across the age groups. However, reported daily energy intake significantly declined with age (P-trend < 0.001; men: 2,142 ± 39 kcal/d at 60–69 y vs. 1,884 ± 30 kcal/d at 80+ y; women: 1,650 ± 25 kcal/d at 60–69 y vs. 1,523 ± 36 kcal/d at 80+ y). Adults aged 80+ had lower scores for green vegetables and beans compared to 60–69-year-olds (men: 2.0 vs. 3.4; women: 2.3 vs. 4.4). In women, the percentage of energy from protein was significantly lower at 80+ years (12.9% ± 0.6%) than at 60–69 years (17.0% ± 0.9%) and 70–79 years (15.6% ± 0.6%), whereas protein proportions did not differ significantly across age groups in men. Both men and women aged 80+ consumed a higher proportion of energy from snacks and sweets than those aged 60–69 (men: 18.1% ± 0.8% vs. 15.4% ± 0.7%; women: 19.6% ± 0.8% vs. 15.5% ± 0.7%).
Why it matters
Dietary guidelines frequently treat all adults aged 60 and older as a single demographic group. These findings demonstrate meaningful dietary shifts past age 80—notably reduced protein in women, fewer vegetables, and more discretionary sweets—suggesting that nutritional recommendations may need subdivision across later life stages.
Limits
The study is cross-sectional, preventing causal or longitudinal conclusions about individual aging trajectories. Dietary data relied on self-reported 24-hour recalls, which are subject to recall bias and underreporting. The sample excluded institutionalized older adults, who may have substantially different nutritional patterns and health needs.
Cited by
- contradicts People in the United States consume about 3,500 calories per day on average.