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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #213176

Title: Dietary patterns of older adults: associations with biomarkers, anthropometry and nutrient intakes

Author
item BAILEY, REGAN - PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
item MITCHELL, DIANE - PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
item SMICIKLAS-WRIGHT, H - PENN STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Society for Experimental Biology Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2007
Publication Date: 4/1/2007
Citation: Bailey, R.L., Mitchell, D.C., Smiciklas-Wright, H. 2007. Dietary patterns of older adults: associations with biomarkers, anthropometry and nutrient intakes. Society for Experimental Biology Proceedings, April 28, 2007, Washington, DC.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Dietary patterns (DP) reflect chronic dietary exposure and thus present an optimal technique for examining diet and disease relationships in epidemiological studies. The purpose of this study was to examine the DP of participants in the Geisinger Rural Aging Study (114 male, 158 female mean age 78.5). Anthropometric and health data, along with a fasting blood sample were collected via a clinic visit. Dietary data was collected using 4, 24-hour recalls; average servings from 24 subgroups were analyzed via cluster analysis. Four DP were generated: Sweets and fat (n=91); Low calorie (n=85);Meats and refined grains (n=34), and prudent (n=63).The sweets and fat DP had highest intakes of whole fat dairy, added sugars and sweets, and high intakes of dairy desserts. This DP had some similarities to the Meats and refined grains DP; however, the meats and refined grain DP had adverse biomarker profiles and higher waist circ. and dietary fats than all the other DP. The low calorie profile was comprised of low intakes across all food groups, with the lowest energy intake (mean =1200, 95% CL 1121-1278). The prudent DP was related to highest intakes of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains and had the highest mean adequacy ratio. Both the low calorie and prudent pattern exhibited higher serum B12 than the less desirable patterns. This work supports the utility of DP assessment, and relates DP to meaningful clinical outcomes that may help determine individuals at risk.