Dietary Intakes of Women's Health Initiative Long Life Study Participants Falls Short of the Dietary Reference Intakes

Abstract

Background: Understanding how nutrient intake in older women compares with recommendations is important. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics position statement summarizes the nutrient needs of older adults (aged ≥60 years) based on a systematic review.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare nutrient intake of Women's Health Initiative Long Life Study participants to the Dietary Reference Intakes for nutrients reviewed in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics position statement.

Design: The study is a cross-sectional analysis.

Participants/setting: Participants (n=7,875) were mailed the General Nutrition Assessment Food Frequency Questionnaire during 2012-2013, of whom 77% (n=6,095) completed it, and 5,732 were included in the analytic sample after exclusion for implausible energy intakes.

Main outcome measures: Mean intake of energy and protein, calcium, fiber, folate, potassium, sodium, vitamins B-12, D, E, and K were described overall and compared with recommendations.

Statistical analyses performed: Demographic and lifestyle characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. The proportion of participants meeting recommendations was computed.

Results: Mean age of completers was 79±7 years and 53.5% were non-Hispanic white, 30% were non-Hispanic black, and 16.5% were Hispanic/Latina. Only one-third of women consumed ≥21 g/day fiber, whereas fewer met the Recommended Dietary Allowance for calcium (18.6%), vitamin E (16.9%), and vitamin D (1.7%). Just more than half (56%) of participants met the Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein of 0.8 g/kg body weight/day, and just less than half (47.0%) met potassium guidelines.

Conclusions: These findings suggest older women within the Women's Health Initiative were generally not achieving recommended intake for several key nutrients highlighted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics position statement. These findings underscore the need to identify effective approaches for improving the nutrient density of dietary intake in older women.

Keywords: Aging; Dietary Reference Intakes; Nutrition; Postmenopausal women; Protein.

Figure 1:

Proportion of 5,732 post-menopausal women participating in the Women’s Health Initiative Food Intake (WHI-FI) Study meeting the reference intakes for dietary components^a identified in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’s 2012 Position Paper titled "Food and nutrition for older adults: promoting health and wellness." ^aIntake does not include dietary supplements.