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Title: DOCUMENTING NEED FOR NUTRITION AND HEALTH INTERVENTIONS IN MIDDLE AND OLDER ADULTS IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI DELTA (LMD)

Author
item JOHNSON, G - SOUTHERN UNIV AND A&M COL
item MCGEE, B - SOUTHERN UNIV AND A&M COL
item CASEY, P - ACHRI
item GOSSETT, J - ACHRI, DAC
item SIMPSON, P - ACHRI, DAC
item HARSHA, D - PENNINGTON BIOMED RES CTR
item Bogle, Margaret

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2003
Publication Date: 4/24/2004
Citation: Johnson, G.S., McGee, B.B., Casey, P.H., Gossett, J.M., Simpson, P., Harsha, D., Bogle, M. 2004. Documenting need for nutrition and health interventions in middle and older adults in the Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 18(5):A883.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The aim of this investigation was to analyze dietary quality among middle and older adults in the Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD), using 24-hr recall data from FOODS 2000, a representative survey of nutrition and health in the LMD. Food intake data were obtained in computer assisted telephone interviews, and analyzed using the Pennington Biomedical Research Center dietary coding database system. Participants were 561 black and white males and females, 55-89 years-old. Diet quality was determined using The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Results: Whites consumed significantly (P<0.0001) more total energy (1921 kilocalories) than blacks (1457 kilocalories). The mean intake of total fat and percent kilocalories from fat for whites were 77.8 grams and 35.7% respectively, compared to 57.0 grams and 34.1% respectively for blacks. There were consistently fewer blacks than whites (P<0.003) meeting DRIs for all essential nutrients except vitamins C and E. Notable was the low percent reaching the DRI for zinc (55.4%) and B-6 (46.8%). Both groups had HEI-Total scores (whites-66 and blacks-60) (P<0.0001) that corresponded to 'a diet that needs improvement.' These findings document a critical need for implementing nutrition interventions in rural environments with special attention to subpopulations at risk. Supported by USDA, ARS Project #6251-53000-003-00D.