A Dietary Screening Questionnaire Identifies Dietary Patterns in Older Adults

Authors: BAILEY, REGAN - PENN STATE UNIV; MITCHELL, DIANE - PENN STATE UNIV; MILLER, CARLA - PENN STATE UNIV; STILL, CHRIS - GEISENGER HLTH SYST, PA; JENSEN, GORDON - VANDERBILT UNIV; Tucker, Katherine; SMICIKLAS-WRIGHT, HELEN - PENN STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2006
Publication Date: 2/1/2007
Citation: Bailey, R.L., Mitchell, D.C., Miller, C.K., Still, C.D., Jensen, G.L., Tucker, K., Smiciklas-Wright, H. 2007. A dietary screening questionnaire identifies dietary patterns in older adults. Journal of Nutrition. 137(2):421-426.

Interpretive Summary: Recent evidence supports the utility of dietary pattern analysis for evaluating risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, obesity, osteoporosis and heart disease. Dietary patterns consistent with national guidelines also have been associated with lower risk of mortality. Dietary patterns in rural older adults have been related to diet quality, weight status, and biomarkers of nutritional status. Thus, dietary pattern analysis is important for identifying those who may be at nutritional risk in order to provide appropriate interventions. Our objective was to design a screening tool to assess diet quality and dietary patterns among older adults, and to relate the patterns to markers of general health and nutrition status. We designed a diet screening instrument and tested it among subjects sampled from the Geisinger Rural Aging Study. All participants attended a local clinic and had biochemical, anthropometric and other health data collected. Dietary information was obtained via 24-hour recall. Two dietary patterns were derived; one represented by more healthful foods and one by less optimal food choices. The healthy pattern was associated with more favorable biomarkers, more nutrient dense diets, and lower waist circumference whereas the converse was true for the second pattern. A screening tool can be used to identify dietary patterns in older adults, and the patterns are related to markers of health and nutrition status.

Technical Abstract: Dietary patterns reflect habitual exposure of foods and nutrients, and are a preferred means to assess diet and disease relationships. Our objective was to design a screening tool to assess diet quality and dietary patterns among older adults, and to relate the patterns to markers of general health and nutrition status. We used a population-specific data-based approach to design a diet screening instrument that was tested among subjects sampled from the Geisinger Rural Aging Study cohort (n=205). All participants attended a local clinic and had biochemical, anthropometric and other health data collected. Dietary information was obtained via 24-hour recall. We used principle components analysis to derive dietary patterns, which were then compared to nutritional outcomes using Pearson-partial correlations, controlling for energy, age, BMI, and supplement use. Two dietary patterns were derived; one represented by more healthful foods and one by less optimal food choices. The healthy pattern was associated with more favorable biomarkers, more nutrient dense diets, and lower waist circumference whereas the converse was true for the second pattern. A screening tool can be used to identify dietary patterns in older adults, and the patterns are related to markers of health and nutrition status.