Nutrient Intake Adequacy among Older Adults in Rural Communities of Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State

Abstract

Background: The process of aging is associated with various physiological changes thus making the older adults vulnerable to malnutrition.
Objective: This study aims to assess the Nutrient intake adequacy of the older adults in rural communities of Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State.
Methods: This study which was cross-sectional in design was carried out among 372 respondents. Biodata of the respondents was collected using a well-structured interviewer's administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were taken using appropriate instruments. Dietary intake was assessed using a single day multi-pass-24-hour recall questionnaire and a single day weighed-food intake was taken for 30 respondents. Adapted Total Dietary Assessment software was used to convert food intake into
nutrient intake. SPSS version 20 was used to process all data.
Result: About half (54.3%) of the respondents were overweight and 38.7% of the respondents were obese. There was a significant association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (P=0.001), BMI and age (P=0.001), BMI and working situation (P=0.001).This study found out that 62.6% and 55.6%of the respondents had inadequate intake of energy and carbohydrate. Also, 74.5%, 53.8%, 86.3% and 74.2% of the respondents had inadequate intake of potassium, magnesium, calcium and Vitamin C
respectively. There was no significant difference between the actual nutrient intake from the 24-hour recall and the weighed food intake of the respondents except for protein (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Most of the respondents had inadequate intake of energy, carbohydrate and some micronutrients which can predispose to malnutrition.